Colombe  followed  him  with  her  eyes,  saw  Odelle,  and  set  her
teeth  with  a  look  not  pleasant  to  see.  The  young  lovers  took
their  places  in  the  set  forming,  and  Colombe  watched  them  with
an  expression  her  childish  face  had  never  worn,  and  which  many
noted  with  sudden  enlightenment  as  to  the  change  in  her.
It  all  happened  in  a  moment  after  that.  Toussaint  took  his
partner  in  his  arms  to  turn.  Odelle  stepped  back  into  place,  and
Colombe  sprang  on  her  like  a  panther,  bore  her  to  the  ground,
and  began  an  assault  that  might  have  ended  tragically,  had  not
Toussaint,  recovering  from  his  surprise,  thrown  her  off,  and  lifted
Odelle  from  the  floor.  The  music  ceased  in  confusion,  a  dozen
hands  were  laid  on  Colombe,  who  lay  quite  still,  except  for  the
sobs  which  shook  her  slender  body.
Odelle  interposed  between  her  and  the  gathering  crowd.
"  Leave  her  to  me,"  she  said.  "  She  was  crazy  for  a  moment,
and  could  bear  no  more.  She  will  be  her  own  gentle  self  again.
