I went, however, at last, and had had half a night's sound sleep before rustling, and chattering, and the light from bed-candles woke me to hear the news.
Matilda was looking pale, and somewhat dishevelled, and a great deal of the costume at which we had laboured was reduced to rags.

Eleanor's dress was intact, and she herself looked perfectly fresh, partly because she had resisted, with great difficulty, the extreme length of train then fashionable, and partly from a sort of general compactness which seems a natural gift with some people.

Poor Matilda had nearly fainted after one of the dances, and had brought away a violent headache; but she declared that she had enjoyed herself, and would have stayed to relate her adventures, but Colonel Buller would not allow it, and sent her to bed.

Eleanor slept with me, so our gossip was unopposed, except by warnings.
I set fire to my hair in the effort to decipher the well-filled ball card, but we put it out, and the candle also, and chatted in bed.
"You must have danced every dance," I said, admiringly.
"We sat out one or two that are down," said Eleanor; "and No.

21 was supper, but I danced all the rest." "There was one man you danced several times with," I said, "but I couldn't make out his name.