Even Mrs.Hollenbeck came up, and said how sorry she was: she had supposed I danced.
But they all went away, and I was left by one of the furthest windows with a tiresome old man, who didn't dance either, because his legs weren't strong enough, and who talked and talked till I asked him not to; which he didn't seem to like.

But to have to talk, with the noise of the music, and the stir, of the dancing, and the whirl that is always going on in such a room, is penance.

I told him it made my head ache, and besides I couldn't hear, and so at last he went away, and I was left alone.
Sometimes in pauses of the dance Richard came up to me, and sometimes Kilian; but it had the effect of making me more uncomfortable, for it made everybody turn and look at me.

Bye and bye I stole away and went on the piazza, and looked in where no one could see me.

I could not go away entirely, for I was fascinated by the dance.