The President expressed his regret at this. And then instead of passing on and dispensing his courtesies impartially among his guests, he lingered near the beautiful Anna, apparently as much fascinated by her charms, as the youngest man in his presence.
Full half an hour he stood talking with the beauty, and then reluctantly bowed his adieux, and immediately left the room.
This seemed the signal for the breaking up of the assembly.
And then followed other leave-takings, and the pressure through the corridors to the cloak rooms; and the confusion of tongues and of properties there, and the crush in the hall, and finally, the escape into pure, bracing air of the clear starlight night on the outside.
Alexander and Anna had to wait the turn of their carriage to drive up.
When, at length, they were comfortably seated within it, Alexander took out his watch, and said:
“Half-past twelve o’clock, and we promised to be home at half-past eleven. We have kept your grandfather waiting for an hour.”
And he thought with compunction of one other whom he had kept waiting much more than an hour.
They were driven rapidly to the hotel. On their arrival, Alexander helped Anna out of the carriage and hurried her into the house, for the night was sharp.
They found General Lyon up, and expecting them, with much impatience.