Lady Neville has thrown so many parties that they no longer entertain her. She decides it's time for a new and exciting guest: Death. She invites Death by sending an invite with a hairdresser whose child is dying. A poet comments on the cruelty of such a request imposed on the hairdresser. The hairdresser returns a note saying that Death would be thrilled to join Lady Neville's party.

Everyone except Lady Neville is terrified of Death's arrival. Death arrives late to the party, sometime after midnight, after all the guests are convinced that Death will not appear. Death appears in the figure of a young girl, which surprises the guests, many of whom assumed Death would take a masculine form. Everyone is scared to dance with Death; only the Captain dances with her, and even he trembles.

Soon, Death says it is time for her to leave, but everyone insists that she stay, even some women who would instead leave out of jealousy and fear. Death says that she can stay, but only on one condition — someone has to become Death so that she can once again be human. Death selects Lady Neville, who agrees to this. Lady Neville is tired of life and sees the hairdresser's child's Death as meaningless: two qualities that Death says make the job perfect for her. Death says she was chosen for the role at a very young age and is excited to be human again. Lady Neville, in her old age, accepts the role.