The younger guests applauded, but the older faces began to grow anxious.
"'Hadn't you better stop, dear,' said one of the women, 'You'll make yourself so tired.' "But Annette did not answer.
"'I believe she's fainted,' cried out a girl, who had caught sight of her face as it was swept by.
"One of the men sprang forward and clutched at the figure, but its impetus threw him down on to the floor, where its steel-cased feet laid bare his cheek.

The thing evidently did not intend to part with its prize easily.
"Had any one retained a cool head, the figure, one cannot help thinking, might easily have been stopped.

Two or three men, acting in concert, might have lifted it bodily off the floor, or have jammed it into a corner.

But few human heads are capable of remaining cool under excitement.

Those who are not present think how stupid must have been those who were; those who are, reflect afterwards how simple it would have been to do this, that, or the other, if only they had thought of it at the time.
"The women grew hysterical.