which had gone out of him once before.

Thus continually beholding her and her companions in the giddy whirl, the
night wore on with the musicians, last dances and more last dances being
added, till the intentions of the old on the matter were thrice exceeded
in the interests of the young. Watching the couples whirl and turn,
advance and recede as gently as spirits, knot themselves like house-flies
and part again, and lullabied by the faint regular beat of their
footsteps to the tune, the players sank into the peculiar mesmeric quiet
which comes over impressionable people who play for a great length of
time in the midst of such scenes; and at last the only noises that
Christopher took cognizance of were those of the exceptional kind,
breaking above the general sea of sound--a casual smart rustle of silk, a
laugh, a stumble, the monosyllabic talk of those who happened to linger
for a moment close to the leafy screen--all coming to his ears like
voices from those old times when he had mingled in similar scenes, not as
servant but as guest.




5. AT THE WINDOW--THE ROAD HOME


The dancing was over at last, and the radiant company had left the room.
A long and weary night it had been for the two players, though a
stimulated interest had hindered physical exhaustion in one of them for a
while. With tingling fingers and aching arms they came out of the alcove
into the long and deserted apartment, now pervaded by a dry haze. The
lights had burnt low, and Faith and her brother were waiting by request