The music ran down. Lord Lathkill stopped the Victrola.
"Carlotta gone?" he said.
"Apparently."
"Why didn't you stop her?"
"Wild horses wouldn't stop her."
He lifted his hand with a mocking gesture of helplessness.
"The lady loves her will," he said. "Would you like to dance?"
I looked at Mrs. Hale.
"No," I said. "I won't butt in. I'll play the pianola. The Victrola's a brute."
I hardly noticed the passage of time. Whether the others danced or not, I played, and was unconscious of almost everything. In the midst of one rattling piece. Lord Lathkill touched my arm.