'The best evening I've spent for a long time.'.
'I'm so glad.'
'Many thanks for a grand party.'
'I'm so glad.'
'Here we are, you see, staying to the bitter end.'
'Yes, I'm so glad.'
Was there no other sentence in the English language?
I bowed and smiled like a dummy, my eyes searching for Maxim above their heads.
He was caught up in a knot of people by the library.
Beatrice too was surrounded, and Giles had led a team of stragglers to the buffet table in the drawing-room.
Frank was out in the drive seeing that people got their cars.
I was hemmed in by strangers.
'Goodbye, and thanks tremendously.'
'I'm so glad.'
The great hall began to empty.
Already it wore that drab deserted air of a vanished evening and the dawn of a tired day.
There was a grey light on the terrace, I could see the shapes of the blown firework stands taking form on the lawns.
'Goodbye; a wonderful party.'
'I'm so glad.'
Maxim had gone out to join Frank in the drive.
Beatrice came up to me, pulling off her jangling bracelet.
'I can't stand these things a moment longer.
Heavens, I'm dead beat.
I don't believe I've missed a dance.
Anyway, it was a tremendous success.'
'Was it?' I said.
'My dear, hadn't you better go to bed?
You look worn out.
You've been standing nearly all the evening.
Where are the men?'
'Out on the drive.'
'I shall have some coffee, and eggs and bacon.
What about you?'
'No, Beatrice, I don't think I will.'
'You looked very charming in your blue.
Everyone said so.
And nobody had an inkling about — about the other things, so you mustn't worry.'
'No.'
'If I were you I should have a good long lie tomorrow morning.
Don't attempt to get up.
Have your breakfast in bed.'
'Yes, perhaps.'
'I'll tell Maxim you've gone up, shall I?"
'Please, Beatrice.'
'All right, my dear. Sleep well.'
She kissed me swiftly, patting my shoulder at the same time, and then went off to find Giles in the supper room.
I walked slowly up the stairs, one step at a time.
The band had turned the lights off in the gallery, and had gone down to have eggs and bacon too.
Pieces of music lay about the floor.
One chair had been upturned.