"I shall certainly keep him at a respectful distance," she said.

"Good-bye." "Oh, are you going?
Let me escort you! Really, I've nothing else to do." He swept the cards together and sprang to his feet.

"Where may I take you?
Would you like some refreshment ?" She accepted his proffered arm though she instantly negatived his proposal.

"Shall we go down to the vestibule?
No doubt you have a partner for the next dance." "Have you ?" he questioned keenly.
"That is beside the point," she remarked.
"Not at all.

It is the centre and crux of the situation.