In the crowd of chatting girls, Jenny began to call herself a fool, to rail at her weakness, and to ascribe the whole experience to the extra Guinness of a first night. Yet all the time she wondered if he would be waiting at the end of the court; there had been no wave of hand or flutter of a programme to confirm the hopes of imagination. Moreover, what was he really like? Outside he would be "awful," like the rest of them. Outside he would smirk and betray his sense of ownership. Outside he would destroy the magic that had waked her at last from the dull sleep of ordinary life. She began to hurry feverishly her undressing, and the more she hurried, the more she dreamed. At last, having, as it seemed, exhausted herself with speed, she sat down on the bench, and, looking round, perceived that the other girls were well in front of her. She lost confidence and wished for support in the adventure. "Coming out to-night?" she asked Irene. "If you like," said the latter. Jenny, although she longed to be out of the theater, could not be quick that night. As she watched the other girls leave the dressing-room, she asked herself why she had wanted Irene to wait for her. If he were outside, Irene would spoil it all; for, together, they would giggle, and he would think what a shocking couple of girls he had fallen in with. She wished now that Irene would become impatient and go, but the latter seemed perfectly willing to dawdle, though by now they were the only two inhabitants of the dressing-room. "Oh, do move yourself!" "Oh, I can't, Irene. Whoever made these unnatural stays?" "We shall get locked in," said Irene. But Jenny was dressed at last, and together they passed out into the cool September night. He was there. Instinctively Jenny recognized the careless figure in opera hat and full black coat. She drew back and clutched her friend's wrist, aware of hot blushes that surely must flame visibly in the darkness. "Who's he?" whispered Irene. "Who's who?" "The fellow by himself at the end of the court?" "How ever on earth should I know? Do you think I'm a walking _Answers_?" The two girls passed him by. He hesitated; then, as if by an effort, raised his hat. Irene giggled foolishly. "How d'ye do, Tootoose?" said Jenny, self-possessed through his embarrassment. "I liked your dancing," he said simply. "Did you? Who ca----?" She stopped. Somehow the formula was inadequate. "Can't we go and have supper somewhere?" he asked. "Just as _you_ like." "Where shall we go?" "It doesn't matter to me," said Jenny. "Gatti's?" "Um." "But do you like Gatti's?" persisted the stranger. "It's all right." "We can all squash into a hansom, can't we?" "Rather," said Jenny. They rattled off to Gatti's, and were soon sitting on red velvet, rulers of gayety. "What's your name, Claude?" inquired Jenny. "Raymond," he said. "Oo-er! What a soppy name!"