"Aren't there!" she said, bowing and smiling to one and another of the men who saluted her. "Nearly everybody one knows. By the way, I haven't seen the duke this morning."
"Dolph's down in the country," he said.
"Oh!"
She would not have asked where, even had she not known; that would have been another mistake of which she would not have been guilty for worlds, but her "oh" gave him a chance to tell her if he chose. Apparently he did not choose, for he changed the subject.
"How did the Spelham's dance go off last night?"
"Very well," she replied. "But it was terribly crowded. The princess was there. I saved a couple of dances for you as long as I could."
"I'm sorry," he said. "I couldn't get back."
She looked quite satisfied with the explanation, or rather want of one, quite satisfied and serenely placid.
"You missed a very pleasant ball," was all she said. "I must go on now. Will you come in to luncheon? Aunt will be very pleased to see you."
"And you too?" he said, as a matter of course.