At that moment a peal of silvery laughter proceeded from the corner of the room where Lord Fitz and Violet were seated.
Leicester started and frowned and then Mrs. Dodson knew what ailed him. She knew that he was in love with Violet Mildmay.
When Leicester had left, Violet's smiles disappeared.
She answered Lord Fitz at random, and grew cold and even stately.
Lord Fitz hoped when they were saying good-night that she would relapse into her bright amiability, but he was disappointed.
She wished him good-night with a smile that was the perfection of friendly indifference.
All the guests had gone, and Violet sat alone in the now silent drawing-room.
Her heart was heavy, her eyes and her whole frame weary.
As she reached her room she saw a light making its way from the captain's room, and heard the soft hum of his voice as he murmured his favorite air from "Faust."