"The violin, flute and bassoon,
And the dancers dancing in tune."
through all her interview with Colonel Carlyle, but when it is ended she does not return to the ball-room. She leaves him with a cold good-night, and retires to her own room.
Lucy, her maid, starts up drowsily from her easy-chair as she enters.
"You here, Lucy?" she says. "I told you not to stay up for me. You should not break your rest staying up night after night like this."
"Lor', Miss Bonnibel, I have had as comfortable a snooze in your arm-chair as if I had been tucked into my bed," Lucy answers good-naturedly. "Don't you go for to worry over me staying up. I kin stand it if you kin."
Her mistress stands in the center of the room, her eyes shining, her white hands tearing at the diamond necklace about her throat.
"Take it off, Lucy," she cries out impatiently. "It hurts me, it chokes me!"
Lucy hastens to obey, but starts back as she sees the wild, white face of the hapless girl.
"Oh, me!" she exclaims, "you look like a ghost, you are that white. Are you sick, Miss Bonnibel? Let me get you something to take—some wine, or something?"
"No, no, I wish nothing," she answers, impatiently. "Only undress me, Lucy, and help me to bed. I am very tired—that is all."