“It is fortunate refreshments are served upstairs,” he answered. “You would not let so small a thing interfere with your evening’s pleasure?” Reassured somewhat by his tone, she said: “After all, it was only an idol, was it?” “That’s all. They must be very brave folk to worship it, eh?” “Yes. The Serpent is much less gruesome. Isn’t it?” He laughed. “Well, an empty skull often looks much worse than it is.” “But,” said she, “it wasn’t empty. I never saw such eyes. Never! Never!” “You haven’t seen the Serpent yet?” “No; but mother did, and she said nothing about its eyes. She said it was plain to be seen we worshipped the true god, his scales were such a lovely gold. I am going to ask Miss Crokerly to introduce me to her friend. I’m sure if she had not come then I should have fainted right away. And I always laughed at Blanche for fainting. She used to do it so conveniently.” So saying, she slipped away, and to the upper regions, where, so far as she knew, there was nothing gruesome hidden away. And soon the episode of the death’s-head was forgotten, and the evening’s enjoyment began again with even greater zest. Rosalie’s programme filled, but she never danced. Who could, when wearing only stockings? But she did not go home, but waited for that final dance, and no one noticed her slipperless feet. CHAPTER XXXII DIPLOMACY “I have not the slightest inclination to dance, Mr. Barringcourt. I’ve spent one of the most delightfully lazy evenings I ever spent in my life.” “I envy you. I’ve been going through a species of treadmill. I’ve danced with every school-girl in the room.” “Myself included. You began the evening badly, you know.” He sat down beside her. “Where were you all the supper-time?” he asked. Rosalie looked at him. She detected the old, tired, wearily contemptuous expression on his face. She herself was far from tired. Her eyes were bright. Her cheeks had flushed a pretty pink; she had been under no unwilling exertion to please anyone. “I stayed upstairs to see how long I’d be forgotten, and when no one remembered me, and I grew hungry, I came down.” “You should have acted the part of the jealous fairy godmother, and blasted us all.” “Well, though I be a school-girl, yet I’ve none of the attractions of youth, and so I’ve learnt toleration.” “It’s hardly fair to keep repeating what I once said at random.” “Was it at random? I set a whole night apart to weep about it.” “You had nothing better to do, then?” “The most miserable of all states, you must acknowledge. And through no fault of my own.” “Whose, then?” “Yours. You have much to be answerable for, Mr. Barringcourt.” He laughed. “I have expiated most of my offences to-night; I have danced the polka.” “With Miss Sebberen. I saw you.” “Let us go into some quieter room. This dancing wearies me. I never was fond of it.”