The excitement, the enchanting delight, the delicious disturbance of "the first ball," had produced its result.

Perhaps there had only been this lacking.

It was hard to say, but for that brief instant of time Annixter was looking at Hilma, the woman.

She was no longer the young girl upon whom he might look down, to whom he might condescend, whose little, infantile graces were to be considered with amused toleration.
When Annixter returned to the harness room, he let himself into a clamour of masculine hilarity.

Osterman had, indeed, made a marvellous "fertiliser," whiskey for the most part, diluted with champagne and lemon juice.