She said this with a little air of civil mocking which was by no means unbecoming, and to which her companion was well used.
"Thank you," he replied, amiably. "You showed consideration, of course—but that's your way."
"I may not have lived exactly the kind of life I used to think I should live—when I was a school-girl," she went on, smiling; "but who does?—and who would want to when she attained years of discretion? And I may not be exactly the kind of person I—meant to be; but I think I may congratulate you on that—and Richard. You would never have been the radiant creatures you are if I had ripened to that state of perfection. You could not have borne up under it."
She rose from her seat and took his arm.
"No," she said, "I am not the kind of person I meant to be, and Colonel Tredennis has reminded me of the fact and elevated my spirits. Let us go and find him, and invite him to dinner to-morrow. He deserves it."
As they passed the door of the dancing-room she paused a moment to look in, and as she did so caught sight of the girl in the white dress once more.
"She is not tired yet," she said, "but her partner is—and so am I. If Richard has come, I think I shall go home."