A March of Heroes v5

her by many winding passages to the seats
he had engaged. In one of these passages
a young man stepped in her way clumsily,
and then started back and apologised very
abjectly. He had seen her face, and
understood why the Visitor was leading
her by the hand. His voice was so full
of regret that Doris (who thought her
friend was never angry with any one) won-
dered more than a little to hear the tones
in which he put aside the stranger’s
apologies. But within a very few moments
they had taken their seats, and there was
no time to ask for explanations, for her
friend was telling her all about the great
hall and the people in it : the lovely dresses
_of the ladies, the misty fountain in the
centre of the floor, round which people
gathered, and the huge stage, all decked
with flowers and palms. He had not
nearly exhausted the subject when the
people began to applaud, and the music,
which had ceased for a moment as they
entered, began again.