expression of despair in his face, shudders
and comes to himself. He looks around to see that he is alone. He
grasps his forehead tight a moment in his right hand, drops his hand,
and with compressed lips nods his head determinedly. He is standing by
one of the smaller supper-tables; he looks down at it and takes up a
silver knife at one of the places, feels its dull edge, and throws it
down sneering. A_ SERVANT _appears_.

MR. WOLTON. Howes?

SERVANT. [_Coming into the room and going to_ WOLTON.] Yes, sir.

MR. WOLTON. I am going up to my room. [_With a motion of his head,
indicating upstairs._] I am not feeling well. If my absence should be
noticed, explain to Mrs. Wolton, but do not disturb me--do you
understand?

SERVANT. Yes, sir.

MR. WOLTON. _On no account am I to be disturbed._ No one is to come to
me until _after_ the party is entirely over. _Don't make any mistake
about that._

SERVANT. No, sir.

WOLTON, _who is half way between centre and door right, turns
for a moment, looking about the room. He is seized with a
nervous twitching of his muscles. He clenches his fists,
grinds his teeth to control himself, and, bowing his head,
goes from the room by door_. KITTY _and_ JOHNSTONE _appear in
ball-room doorway, at exit of_ WOLTON.

KITTY. [_Looking into room on stage._] Here's a dear table, all by
itself. [_Speaks as she appears in the doorway. The two turn and look
off right at_ ETHEL _and_ FANSHAW _who are following them slowly_.

JOHNSTONE. Come along, Fanshaw, here's a lovely, quiet table, where we
can say just what we like about everybody! [_They stand in doorway a
moment, looking off right, waiting for the other couple with their
backs to_ WOLTON _and room_. ETHEL _and_ FANSHAW _join the first
couple, and all come forward, speaking. The following speeches are
made as they come forward to table_.

JOHNSTONE. [_To_ FANSHAW _and_ ETHEL.] How you dawdle.

ETHEL. Jack Wright tore my lace.

FANSHAW. Trying to kiss her in Copenhagen. [_They are about the
table._ JOHNSTONE _at once sits down first in the chair the_ SERVANT
_was holding for one of the ladies_. SERVANT _then opens a bottle of
champagne and pours in the glasses_.

JOHNSTONE. [_Sitting._] Come on.

KITTY. Look at him!

ETHEL. What a rude little beast you are, Johnny!

FANSHAW. Get up! [_Pushing him._

JOHNSTONE. Well, you girls dawdle so! [KITTY _and_ ETHEL _sit. Enter_
MRS. LORRIMER _from ball-room, dressed as