Sentence:  They stayed together during three dances, went out on to the terrace, explored wherever they were permitted to explore, paid two visits to the <WSD>buffet</WSD>, and enjoyed themselves much in the same way as if they had been school-children surreptitiously breaking loose from an assembly of grown-ups. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A (counter) or (sideboard) from which food and drinks are served or may be bought.