“How nice you look, dear!” she exclaimed, taking her by the shoulders and holding her at arms’ length. “Now I wonder why it is that you always seem just perfectly dressed. That neat little frock of yours is simply exquisite, while mine looks all furbelows and fuss. Where did you learn to dress like that?”
Doris could have answered, “At the best of all schools, the theatre;” but instead, she smilingly put the question by and praised the other’s handsome costume.
They were still talking when a footman announced Mr. Spenser Churchill and Mr. Percy Levant. Lady Despard gave a little start.
“Bless me!” she exclaimed, “I had forgotten them!” and she glided forward to receive them. Doris turned aside for a moment to pick up a flower which had fallen from a vase, then looking round, found Mr. Spenser Churchill waiting with extended hand.
“My dear Miss Marlowe!” he purred, pressing her hand and smiling down upon her with a perfect wealth of benevolence; “I’m so glad, so glad to see you again. Let me introduce my friend, Mr. Percy Levant. May I?”
He stepped on one side, and Doris, looking up, saw a tall, graceful young man, with a face almost perfectly handsome; and as she noticed the well-cut and carefully severe style of his evening dress, she felt surprised and amused. This aristocratic gentleman, with the face of a Greek god, must have startled Lady Despard, with her doubts and fears.
“Miss Doris Marlowe, Percy,” said Mr. Spenser Churchill, glancing at him sideways and with keen watchfulness.
Percy Levant did not start, but the quick flash of his eyes and a certain quiver of the delicately-formed lips, sufficiently indicated the surprise which fell to his share.
He had imagined a girl, plain almost to ugliness; not only plain, but shy and diffident, and—as he would have put it—bad form; a dark, colorless, governess kind of creature; and this vision of perfect grace and youthful loveliness startled him almost to bewilderment. He bowed low to hide the faint signs of his discomfiture, and Doris, just inclining her head, at once moved away.
Dinner was announced, and Lady Despard, talking in her languidly-glowing style, gave her arm to Spenser Churchill, leaving Percy to escort Doris.