E. Nesbit

“ One ought to feel what one was dancing. The features of the head were masked by the flowing hair and beard, just as the wax head’s had been—but there was something about it that made the dance real—real. Suppose it really were the head of someone she loved—Edmund. ”

“ She gathered the head up with the letters and ran up to her room, full-scented with the roses she had hidden there, laid all that she carried on her white pillow, changed her dress to a white and gold kimono, and went down to Uncle Mosenthal and the champagne and the lights and the supper and the loving flattery and the thought of her triumph. Edmund’s letter lay among the other letters upstairs—the letter that would explain everything, make everything right. ”

“ Why had he asked for Denny? To find out whether she would be alone? Would she find him waiting for her? Or perhaps he had wanted to leave a message for her? And had asked for Denny so that she might not to talked about at the theatre? That would be like him. And if he had done that she would find Denny at home. He would have gone in as usual by Miss Gertrude Steinhart’s door, and with her lover’s message. Well, she would be glad—yes, even if it meant that she could not see her lover alone. Poor Denny! ”

“ You go on and knock ’em.”
Salome’s dismal draperies swished through the narrow passage and the orchestra called, called, called, in the deep, troubled notes of the last movement of the Love Symphony.
The dresser, when she had laid everything in order, strayed out to chat a little with the stage carpenter, and told him the romantic news, and the name of the fortunate man who was to marry Miss Sylvia. There was—any way you look at it—no reason why she should not have done so. Sylvia had made no secret of it. The carpenter, for his part, saw no reason for secrecy. ”

“ She was going to be so happy herself. She wanted to make everyone else happy. At that moment she would have denied Denny nothing. And this was such a natural, loving, flattering little wish of his. “I’ll tell you what. Slip up and see the dance. You can easily get back in time to take the head. And I’ll dance my very best, dear, to please you.” ”

“ The Salome dance should surpass those last dances, by just so much. To find that she could, without anything that could be called a rehearsal, adapt her dance to Denny’s music exalted her with the pride of achievement and the confidence of proved power. ”

“ John Smith ran the motor into its garage, and closed and locked the outer doors, before extinguishing the lights and working the lift for her.
Then he came to the door of the brougham.
“Will you allow me to come in with you, madame, to carry your parcels?” he asked. “And you might be nervous, going into an empty house alone.”
Sandra thanked him. “I’m never nervous,” she said, and at the word knew that, for the first time in her life, she was. “And I don’t think it’s necessary, indeed,” she added. “I expect Mr. ”