’No, no, May; I will not; you must not.  I will not listen to these improper conversations!’

’Now, don’t get angry, there’s a dear, nice girl; you’re worse than Violet, ’pon my word you are; but we must be off.  It is a good half-hour’s drive, and we shall want to be there before nine.  The people will begin to come in about that time.’

Mrs. Gould was asleep in the drawing-room, and, as they awoke her, the sound of wheels was heard on the gravel outside.  The girls hopped into the carriage.  Mrs. Gould pulled herself in, and, blotted out in a far corner, thought vaguely of asking May not to dance more than three times with Fred Scully; May chattered to Alice or looked impatiently through the misted windows for the familiar signs; the shadow of a tree on the sky, or the obscure outline of a farm-building that would tell how near they were to their destination.  Suddenly the carriage turned to the right, and entered a sort of crescent.  There were hedges on both sides, through which vague forms were seen scrambling, but May humorously explained that as no very unpopular landlord was going to be present, it was not thought that an attempt would be made to blow up the building; and, conscious of the beautiful night which hung like a blue mysterious flower above them, they passed through a narrow doorway draped with red-striped canvas.

’Now, mother, what do you think of the decorations?  Do say a word of praise.’

‘I’ve always said, May, that you have excellent taste.’

The school-hall and refectory had been transformed into ball and supper rooms, and the narrow passages intervening were hung with red cloth and green garlands of oak and holly.  On crossing threads Chinese lanterns were wafted luminously.

‘What taste Fred has!’ said May, pointing to the huge arrangement that covered the end wall.  ’And haven’t my tin candelabra turned out a success?  There will be no grease, and the room couldn’t be better lighted.’

‘But look!’ said Alice, ’look at all those poor people staring in at the window.  Isn’t it dreadful that they, in the dark and cold, should be watching us dancing in our beautiful dresses, and in our warm bright room?’

‘You don’t want to ask them in, do you?’

‘Of course not, but it seems very sinister; doesn’t it seem so to you?’

’I don’t know what you mean by its being sinister; but sinister or not sinister, it couldn’t be helped; for if we had nailed up every window we should have simply died of heat.’

‘I hope you won’t think of opening the windows too soon,’ said Mrs. Gould.  ’You must think of us poor chaperons, who will be sitting still all night.’