'I should like to see Doll married,' said Mr. Loftus, who had been not a little surprised at the eager manner in which the young man was bending towards the figure with her back towards them, whose fallen-back hood intercepted her features. He recognised the domino.
'I had no idea Peggy had made such an impression,' he said to himself.
As he re-entered the ballroom, he met Lady Pierpoint, also returning to it with her two plump little girls in tow, whom she had been tidying in the cloak-room. Captain Charrington and some of the other men from Wilderleigh were waiting near the doorway, claiming first dances as their party came in. The orchestra, who had been refreshing themselves, were remounting to their places.
'Then, where is Sibyl?' said Mr. Loftus, looking at Peggy.
'She went to the gallery a long time ago,' replied Peggy promptly, 'with Mr. Doll, to see the people unmask at twelve o'clock.'
Mr. Loftus smiled. 'It was a horrible sight as seen from below,' he said; 'half the men's faces were black, and the hair of every one of them stood up at the back.'
The band struck up a swaying, languorous valse such as tears the hearts out of young persons in their teens.
* * * * *
'I must go home,' Sibyl kept repeating feverishly. 'Doll, you must get the carriage. I must go home.'
Doll was engaged to Peggy for this valse, but he had forgotten it. Sibyl was engaged to Captain Charrington, but she had forgotten it.