“You’d better wait here, and let me see what I can get,” said Stephen, pausing in the doorway. “There is such a crowd around the tables, I think I can manage better alone.”
Gretel agreed, and having found a chair for her, her partner hurried away and was speedily lost to sight in the crowd. It was rather amusing to watch the hurrying, chattering throng, and Gretel was enjoying the novel experience thoroughly, when her attention was suddenly attracted by the sight of a gentleman in evening clothes, who had just entered the room. In an instant all her pleasure was gone; her heart gave a great bound and began beating very fast, for the man was Fritz Lippheim. He was evidently alone, but appeared quite at home in his new surroundings, and was moving leisurely towards one of the tables. He passed so close to Gretel that she could have put out her hand and touched him, but if he recognized her, he made not the slightest sign, and Gretel, flushing and trembling, sank back in her seat, wishing with all her heart that she had never come to the dance.
It was just at that moment that another man paused in passing Fritz to say in a friendly tone:
“Good-evening, Martin. Glad to see you here to-night.”
“Good-evening,” responded Fritz Lippheim, who did not look at all surprised or embarrassed by his new name, and then the two passed on, and Gretel heard no more of their conversation.
“Here I am at last,” said Stephen. “I began to think it was hopeless, but I managed to secure some ice-cream and a couple of glasses of lemonade. How warm you look. It is stifling in here. Let’s go out on the piazza. A lot of people are eating there.”
“Yes, oh, yes, let’s go out,” said Gretel, rising, and speaking in a tone of such unmistakable relief that her companion regarded her rather curiously.
“I was sorry to be so long,” he said. “You weren’t frightened or uncomfortable, were you?”
“Not frightened exactly,” said Gretel, trying to laugh, “but—but it was a little uncomfortable. There was such a crowd, you know, and I was all alone.”
Stephen could not help laughing.