Couple after couple
dropped out exhausted, but they only went the faster, till at length they
were the only pair left dancing.
"Madder and madder became the waltz. The music lagged behind: the
musicians, unable to keep pace, ceased, and sat staring. The younger
guests applauded, but the older faces began to grow anxious.
"'Hadn't you better stop, dear,' said one of the women, 'You'll make
yourself so tired.'
"But Annette did not answer.
"'I believe she's fainted,' cried out a girl, who had caught sight of her
face as it was swept by.
"One of the men sprang forward and clutched at the figure, but its
impetus threw him down on to the floor, where its steel-cased feet laid
bare his cheek. The thing evidently did not intend to part with its
prize easily.
"Had any one retained a cool head, the figure, one cannot help thinking,
might easily have been stopped. Two or three men, acting in concert,
might have lifted it bodily off the floor, or have jammed it into a
corner. But few human heads are capable of remaining cool under
excitement. Those who are not present think how stupid must have been
those who were; those who are, reflect afterwards how simple it would
have been to do this, that, or the other, if only they had thought of it
at the time.
"The women grew hysterical.
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