Joseline was enjoying the scene; the fact was written in her speaking eyes, and brilliant colour, also she was aware that many glances followed her; she knew that she was discussed and admired. The knowledge that she was a success restored her shattered self-confidence; her spirits rose to their former pitch, and her heart throbbed with alternations of hope and fear. Mr. Ulick!—Ulick! Oh, she could hardly believe that she had seen him and spoken to him! Old recollections came surging through mind and memory, and beating in her brain; everything connected with that poignant, uncertain, happy, and agonised time was coming back. Joseline realised that she was unchanged. Was he?
As she stood beside a pillar, surrounded by a little court, which now included Colonel Wildairs and Sir Harry, distributing smiles and “Ah, sures,” and “I don’t rightly knows” among her circle, all the time she was in a state of seething impatience; a voice was muttering, “Will he come back? Shall I see him again to-night? Yes”—he had effected his escape, and joined the group. Her face kindled and looked radiant as their eyes met, and he said—
“Lady Joseline, I have come to carry you off to supper.”
Was it but an excuse to release her? No; they proceeded towards the supper-room in real earnest, (followed by the attentive observation of the crowd,) where he secured a little table and the services of a brisk waiter.
“I’m not a bit hungry,” she protested, refusing several proffered delicacies.
“But I am,” he said, “and I hope you will keep me in countenance. Let me help you to some of this salmi. My cousin, Freddy Barre, and I motored over here, thirty miles, after dinner.”
“That was a long way.”
“So I thought, and I wanted to cry off; but then I’d no idea I was coming to meet you. Have some champagne?” he added.
“No, no, please; I do not care for it.”
“Just a little”—pouring it out as he spoke—“to drink to ourselves and old times”; and he lifted his glass and touched hers. “But,” he added, seeing that she had suddenly become extremely pale, “perhaps we should forget! Now that you know your place in the world, and I may be presuming on mine.”