Adam, no longer sardonic, waited near the door until Rachel came around the others and found him. Nell and Penelope entered then from the office and joined the little procession that proceeded to admire the orchestra. Behind them, Rachel and Adam giggled and whispered with delight and superiority.

Presently, a heavy knocking at the front door at the other end of the hall claimed attention. Sarah and Leon disengaged themselves and went quickly to welcome the new arrivals who were being let in by Lovey, just taking her station.

A hundred had been invited—more than a hundred came in carriage and coach, buggy and barouche and cabriolet, in phaeton and rockaway. It was long enough after Christmas and long enough before spring for a party to be particularly welcome. Before they arrived at Beulah Land the guests had decided they would have a good time. When that is so, there is no skill in entertaining; providing the premises is enough. But more than that was forthcoming. Although no larger than Oaks, Beulah Land ever possessed a drama and richness that Oaks did not. Beulah Land was, indeed, the plantation of the several surrounding counties. The fact that it was known to have endured and survived both scandal and hard times only added to its glamour and romantic aura. Hearing praise on all sides, Nell felt that she had been right to spend extravagantly on her dress.

As for Sarah, the pink and gold brocade hardly deserved her, so radiant was she. She not only looked beautiful, she felt beautiful. When Roman came in, she talked a little with him as he adjusted his mind to the music the other musicians were making and began to think of his flute in relation to them. Having seen him settled, she moved here, there, and yonder with laughter and good humor, and a special sympathetic welcome for the old who, no matter their everyday complaints, had willed themselves into a condition permitting attendance at the ball. If they dropped dead chewing a bit of ham or sipping a glass of wine, why that was still better than farting into a slop jar at home and feeling lonely and left out.

Selma judged her descent to the party precisely. The hall was half filled. Dancing had begun, but only waltzing; the formal sets were not yet being called. There was a general air of coming and going, with the spectators staking jealous claims to the chairs that would afford the best views of the dancing and flirting. The ladies did much traipsing up and down the stairs in the office on the excuse of leaving wraps or repairing hair and faces. The office, as had been intended, was largely given over to the younger members of the party, those too young to participate in the formal dancing sets, but who still might ape and mock among themselves as they practiced the ways of their elders.