"What is it?" he asked.
"If there are many more dances, I am afraid—I cannot go through them—I think—I am breaking down, and I must not—I must not! Tell me what to do!"
He made a movement so that he stood directly before her and shielded her from the observation of those near them. He realized the danger of the moment.
"Look up at me!" he said. "Try to fix your eyes on me steadily. This feeling will pass away directly. You will go soon and you must not break down. Do not let yourself be afraid that you will."
She obeyed him like a child, trying to look at him steadily.
"Tell me one more dance will be enough," she said, "and say you will dance it with me if you can."
"I will," he answered, "and you need not speak a word."
When the senator found himself alone in the carriage with her his sense of the triumph achieved found its expression in words.
"Well," he said, "I think we have put an end to that story."
"Yes," Bertha answered, "they will not say anything more about me. You have saved me from that."