“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.