“She is at home,” I meekly replied.
“And so you came alone; how very independent!”
“Oh no; I came with the Miss Bennys.”
“I did not know that you ever went out of an evening. We had a little dance last week, and I would have asked you, only I did not think you would like the expense of a fly!” And she threw back her head, and sniffed.
I am sure Mr. Somers heard, and also Mr. Price; and a girl at the other side of Lady Bloss tittered quite audibly.
I, however, merely bowed. It was a safe reply. What could I say?—the expense of a fly was an object to me. However, I was soon whirling round the room with my partner; and I had numerous partners, I could have danced every dance thrice over. Yes, I was enjoying myself enormously. I suppose my head was turned; I could not understand myself. I was surely a changeling. My luxurious surroundings, my splendid gown had transformed me. As I have said before, it was another young woman than Gwendoline Hayes—a stranger, who was walking about in her body, who received admiring glances with an air of cool unconcern, who accepted Sir Fulke’s and Mr. Price’s petits soins with affable condescension.
I saw Lady Polexfen fanning herself languidly in the doorway. As I passed out on her brother’s arm there was a block, and we stood for an instant side by side. She was splendidly dressed in silver brocade and sea-green, and ablaze with diamonds; her waist resembled an hour-glass, and her hair was dressed French style, over her ears. She affected not to see me, but she was as fully conscious of my vicinity as I was of hers. A tall, dark, sardonic man was beside her. Her brother did not notice her, but I did, as she turned to the dark man and whispered something, at which he laughed delightedly—and then looked hard at me.
Mr. Somers took me in to supper. It was served at little tables—a commendable arrangement—and we sat down tête-à-tête.
“I suppose you are staying with friends in the neighborhood?” said my companion in his genial voice.
“No; we are only in lodgings in Stonebrook.”