'Take me away,' she said under her breath. 'Anywhere. Quick.'
It was no time to consider the etiquette of the ballroom. Tanky, startled at his sudden loneliness, seemed by his expression to be endeavouring to bring his mind to bear on the matter. A couple making for the door cut us off from him, and following them, we passed out.
Neither of us spoke till we had reached the little room where I had meditated.
She sat down. She was looking pale and tired.
'Oh, dear!' she said.
I understood. I seemed to see that journey in the cab, those dances, those terrible between-dances …
It was very sudden.
I took her hand. She turned to me with a tired smile. There were tears in her eyes …
I heard myself speaking …
She was looking at me, her eyes shining. All the weariness seemed to have gone out of them.