Lady Holme and Sir Donald became
involved in this section of the crowd, and naturally followed in its
direction. Lord Holme and Miss Schley were at a short distance behind
them, and Lady Holme was aware of this. The double defiance was still
alive in her, and was strengthened by a clear sound which reached her
ears for a moment, then was swallowed up by the hum of conversation from
many intervening voices--the sound of the American's drawling tones
raised to say something she could not catch. As she came out into the
hall, close to the Duke's chair, she saw Rupert Carey trying to make his
way into the ballroom against the stream of dancers. His face was
flushed. There were drops of perspiration on his forehead, and the
violent expression that was perpetually visible in his red-brown eyes,
lighting them up as with a flame, seemed partially obscured as if by a
haze. The violence of them was no longer vivid but glassy.
Lady Holme did not notice all this. The crowd was round her, and she was
secretly preoccupied. She merely saw that Rupert Carey was close to her,
and she knew who was following behind her. A strong impulse came upon her
and she yielded to it without hesitation. As she reached Rupert Carey she
stopped and held out her hand.
"Mr. Carey," she said, "I've been wanting to speak to you all the
evening. Why didn't you ask me to dance?"
She spoke very distinctly. Carey stood still and stared at her, and now
she noticed the flush on his face and the unnatural expression in his
eyes.
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