But now he felt uncomfortable, and kept standing first on one leg, then on the other. Theodora had not returned to him yet: the next dance had not begun.
This great world contained discomfort as well as pleasure, he decided.
Hector walked straight over to him and was excessively polite and agreeable, and Josiah's equanimity was somewhat restored.
What could have happened to Theodora? Where had that beast Wensleydown taken her? Not to supper—surely not to supper?—were Lord Bracondale's thoughts.
And then with the first notes of the next dance she reappeared. It seemed to him she was looking superbly lovely: a faint pink suffused her cheeks, and her eyes were shining with the excitement of the scene.
A mad rush of passion surged over Hector; his turn had come, he thought.
Lord Wensleydown seemed loath to release her, and showed signs of staying to talk awhile. So Hector interposed at once.
"May I not have this dance? I have been looking for you everywhere," he said.
Theodora told him she was tired, and she stood close to her husband; tired—and also she was quite sure Josiah would be bored left all alone, so she wished to stay with him.
But Mrs. Devlyn made a reappearance just then, and as they spoke they saw Josiah give her his arm and lead her away.