But unsettled in mind," conceded Ann. "What's
Tony teen doing?"--shrewdly.
"Getting engaged--or trying to."
She laughed.
"Pooh! I guessed that--months ago. And I think Lady Doreen's a dear. So
you'd better be getting out your consent and furbishing it up so as to give
it prettily as soon as it's required. You know you're pleased--really."
By this time the guests were arriving, and very soon Ann was swept away
from Sir Philip on a tide of eager young men, anxious to inscribe their
names on her programme. She was an excellent dancer, but although she
was physically too young and healthy not to find a certain enjoyment in
the sheer delight of rhythmic motion, she was conscious as the evening
progressed of a certain quality of superficiality in the pleasure she
experienced. There was a sameness about it all that palled. What was there
in it, after all? One of your partners knew a priceless new glide or
shuffle which he forthwith imparted to you, or else you initiated him into
some step hitherto unfamiliar to him, and after that you both went on
one-stepping or fox-trotting round the room in the wake of a number of
other people doing likewise.
Ann, in the arms of a tall young officer from the Ferribridge barracks,
caught herself up quickly at this stage of her unprofitable train of
thought.
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