The next thing she remembered was being outside. She was alone. She was leaning for some reason against a gravestone. It was covered with furry lichen which she was touching with her finger. The sky was clear now and the stars whirled around her with the same violence as the dancing people in the hall. She felt sick and sat down. She could hear the voices in the hall, and the sea, and it occured to her that all the people for miles and miles were in the hall. She alone was outside, under the whirling stars. Except Melissa, she thought. She’s not there. And then, to spoil the image altogether, she heard the sound of running-footsteps. Then the door opened and she heard a couple of women shouting goodnight, calling that they had to get the bairns home to bed.

She had nothing more to drink. She went back into the hall and joined the dancing. It did not seem to matter now that she did not know the steps.

The last of the still and vivid pictures which she retained forever, and which sobered her, was of Agnes crying. Sarah went to find Jim. The family were gathered around Agnes, trying to comfort her, but she was shouting at them.

“What’s the matter?” Sarah asked Jim.

“It’s Mary,” Jim said. “It seems that she’s gone missing. I expect she’s back at Sandwick. Sandy’s gone to look.”

But she was not at Sandwick and there was no more dancing.

George Palmer-Jones could not enter into the spirit of the celebration. He had been to parties on Kinness before and had always enjoyed them, but tonight he found the earthy speeches, the boisterous contact, strangely shocking.

How pagan they are still, he thought, as Alec swung his partner about him, exposing a layer of underskirt and a stockinged leg. They pretend to be Christian, but when they’ve had a few drinks, they still behave like loutish Norsemen.

He wondered how much of his disenchantment was caused by his lack of decision over his future. He had retired. Why should he again put himself into a position when his time was not his own? How could lie indulge in? his passion for ornithology if someone else was paying him to work for them? He was determined that he would come to a decision by the end of the holiday, and seemed unable to put the problem from his mind.

Sylvia got up to dance with Sandy. She smiled at George as she made her way on to the floor. He took no notice of her. He knew that she wanted him to dance with her and that she thought he was being unfriendly. Let her think what she liked. If she wanted to make a spectacle of herself that was her business. He preferred to be a little dignified.