"
"You are going to dance?"
"I want to see who's here."
As they passed the next table Lady Holme nodded to Leo Ulford. He bowed
in return and indicated that he was following almost immediately. Mrs.
Ulford put down her ear-trumpet, turned her head sharply, and looked at
Lady Holme sideways, fluttering her pink eyelids.
"How exactly like a bird she is," murmured Lady Holme.
"Exactly--moulting."
Lady Holme meant as she walked down the gallery; to stop and speak a few
gay words to Miss Schley and her husband, but when she drew near to their
table Lord Holme was holding forth with such unusual volubility, and Miss
Schley was listening with such profound attention, that it did not seem
worth while, and she went quietly on, thinking they did not see her. Lord
Holme did not. But the American smiled faintly as Lady Holme and Robin
disappeared into the hall. Then she said, in reply to her animated
companion:
"I'm sure if I am like Lady Holme I ought to say /Te Deum/ and think
myself a lucky girl. I ought, indeed."
Lady Holme had not been in the ballroom five minutes before Leo Ulford
came up smiling.
"Here I am," he remarked, as if the statement were certain to give
universal satisfaction.
Robin looked black and moved a step closer to Lady Holme.
"Thank you, Mr. Pierce," she said.
She took Leo Ulford's arm, nodded to Robin, and walked away.
Robin stood looking after her.
Pages:
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135