It was some time before she opened her eyes again. By that time Mr. Mackie had succeeded in breaking the ice. The floor shook to the fourth figure of the Shop-Girl Lancers, and Louie saw, beyond the reference-books, the Alcazar beauty swung clear off the ground, a goldfish whirling almost horizontally past. Miss Levey's skirts followed, their owner crying, "Help, help!"... "_For it ain't the proper way to treat a la-ady!_" Mr. Mackie's jubilant voice sang--and when the figure ended there were shouts and clapping of hands and uproarious cries of "Again, again!" By-and-by Louie rose. She walked up the room again. At the piano Mr. Mackie, who was to sing, was now confidentially humming the air of his song into the hired pianist's ear. Mr. Jeffries, once more looking as if he needed a niche and a plinth, was standing in his original place, by the folding door. Miss Levine and Archie Merridew were half hidden behind the piano; and Kitty Windus, radiant, was openly flirting with the pale student called Richardson. Evie Soames had just spoken to Mr. Jeffries; she was sulking at Archie's desertion of her. Then Mr. Weston announced, solemnly and distinctly, that Mr. Mackie was about to add to the enjoyment of all present by singing a song entitled "That Gorgonzola Cheese." Applause greeted the announcement, and Mr. Mackie, who had slipped behind the piano for a moment and returned with his coat on the wrong side out, began. Louie found herself once more by the side of Mr. Jeffries. "I should like some coffee," she said. The coffee was in an adjoining room. For the first time since she had been at the School Louie did not want to hear Mr. Mackie. But the hint was lost on Mr. Jeffries. "Eh? Certainly," he said, and went away in search of the coffee. "'Oh--that--Gorgonzola Cheese!'" Mr. Mackie sang, "'It must have been unhealthy, I suppose, For the old Tom Cat fell dead upon the mat When the niff got up his nose!'" Kitty was laughing almost hysterically. "'Talk about the flavour of the crackling of the pork! I guess it wasn't half so strong As the delicate effluvia that filled our house When the Gorgonzola Cheese went wrong!'" Mr. Jeffries had returned with Louie's coffee, but Louie barely touched it. Great stupid fellow! Then he turned to her with some merely banal remark, and Louie, giving it all the answer it deserved, turned and left him. That unspeakable loneliness had come upon her again. Louie made no further attempt to talk to Mr. Jeffries. She watched another dance, heard Mr. Weston recite "The Raven," and then went to the cloakroom for her shawl. There she came upon Kitty Windus, who had found it necessary to do up her hair again.