The Diary Of Pamela D.

Now, the rooms lay empty, and Pamela had the growing feeling that they were somehow expectant, awaiting the day when fresh life would be breathed into them, when the laughter of children would displace the self-righteous ghosts of another era, when the light of a new day would chase the dark shadows of corrupt brooding away for good- corrupt because such brooding was the remorse of a former slave-owner for the "good-old-days." And like the old mansion, Pamela felt at last that her time of waiting was almost over.

It was a fun evening, the best she could ever remember. After supper, a huge, old upright piano, very much out of tune but still possessed of a good tone, was prevailed upon by a succession of would-be entertainers who, accompanied by a fairly good violinist, led them in song after song, and had them dancing to old-fashioned polkas, waltzes, two-steps and a dozen other kinds of dance that Pamela soon lost track of.

To her surprise and pleased awe, Theo turned out to be an excellent dancer. She herself knew little about polkas or the fast-paced Viennese waltz, but with Theo leading it seemed she was soon flying effortlessly, flushed with pleasure and exertion.

She wanted more than anything to remain at his side, having his company all to herself, but this was not to be. A host of relatives and introductions got in the way, though pleasantly, and many of the women wanted a chance to dance with Theo. Pamela had equal opportunity to meet with his male relatives, of course, and there wasn't a one of them who didn't seem a decent, fun-loving sort.

Mrs. Dewhurst, she noticed, spent the entire evening dancing and speaking with the Chief Inspector and a few of their mutual friends, who sat off to one corner. Tessa sat out most of the time, she and Tom consumed with one another, a fact that made Pamela feel as good as anything else that happened that magical night.

Sometime during the festivities there was a brilliant flash of light from outside, followed by a deafening peal of thunder. Soon it began to rain, and what began with the patter of hail became a succession of cloudbursts, which eventually evened out into an unremitting downpour. Soon after, a succession of CID people began coming in through the staff dining room door to get out of the rain.

That seemed to signal the end of the festivities, and so the party began to disperse. Pamela looked around for Theo, but he was nowhere to be found. She noticed that the Chief Inspector seemed concerned about something, and was leaving. Wanting to know what was going on, she caught up with him.