The reception of this evening in its general features differed from none of its predecessors or its successors. There was the same crowd of carriages on the drive, the same stream of foot passengers on the walk, and the same crush of guests in the hall, in the cloak rooms, in the corridors, in the ante-rooms, in the audience-chamber, in the reception room, and in the east drawing-room.
Having each deposited their outer wrappings respectively in the gentlemen’s and the ladies’ cloak rooms, Alexander and Anna met at the door of the latter. He drew her arm within his own, and they soon found themselves in a crush of crinoline and broadcloth, and an atmosphere of patchoula frangipani, being forced forward through the corridor and the ante-room into the reception room. In due time they were pressed up to the presence of the President and his suite; but they had scarcely made their respective bow and courtesy, and touched his Excellency’s hand, before they were carried onward through other rooms into the east drawing-room, where they found a little more space and freedom of motion.
A military hand was playing a national march, to the measure of which nearly half the company were promenading in a procession around and around the saloon in a manner which, to a new comer, must have looked simply idiotic.
Others of the assembly were seated on the various sofas and divans that lined the walls of the room.
“Will you take a seat or a promenade?” inquired Alexander of his companion.
“Oh, a promenade, by all means,” replied Anna. “I like the perfect vacuity of mind that falls upon one in that orbit.”
Alexander drew her arm closer within his own, and they fell into the procession. Immediately before them walked a foreign minister, in his official costume, conducting a lady of high rank and fashion. Immediately behind them came a general officer with a reigning belle upon his arm.
But the reign of this belle was over from this evening. Her successor had arrived.
Alexander and Anna had not made the circuit of the room twice, before he saw that his companion was, “the observed of all observers” in the place. He saw eyeglasses levelled at her; he heard whispered questions concerning her:
“Who is she, that beautiful girl in black crape and jet?”