A moment later she caught her partner making a burlesque face of suffering over her shoulder, and, turning her head quickly, saw for whose benefit he had constructed it.Eugene Bantry, flying expertly by with Mamie, was bestowing upon Mr.
Flitcroft a condescendingly commiserative wink.
The next instant she tripped in her train and fell to the floor at Eugene's feet, carrying her partner with her.
There was a shout of laughter.The young hostess stopped Eugene, who would have gone on, and he had no choice but to stoop to Ariel's assistance.
"It seems to be a habit of mine," she said, laughing loudly.
She did not appear to see the hand he offered, but got to her feet without help and walked quickly away with Norbert, who proceeded to live up to the character he had given himself.
"Perhaps we had better not try it again," she laughed.
"Well, I should think not," he returned, with the frankest gloom.With the air of conducting her home he took her to the chair against the wall whence he had brought her.There his responsibility for her seemed to cease."Will you excuse me?" he asked, and there was no doubt that he felt that he had been given more than his share that evening, even though he was fat.
"Yes, indeed." Her laughter was continuous.
"I should think you WOULD be glad to get rid of me after that.Ha, ha, ha! Poor Mr.Flitcroft, you know you are!"It was the deadly truth, and the fat one, saying, "Well, if you'll just excuse me now," hurried away with a step which grew lighter as the distance from her increased.Arrived at the haven of a far doorway, he mopped his brow and shook his head grimly in response to frequent rallyings.
Ariel sat through more dances, interminable dances and intermissions, in that same chair, in which, it began to seem, she was to live out the rest of her life.Now and then, if she thought people were looking at her as they passed, she broke into a laugh and nodded slightly, as if still amused over her mishap.