"But, Georgy -!"
"Go and find someone else to dance with you!" she said, almost crying, and turned away from him to seek refuge beside Lady Worth.
Hay stared after her in a good deal of astonishment. but was diverted from his purpose of following her to make his peace by having his arm grasped by a kindred spirit. "Hay, have you heard?" said Harry Alastair eagerly. "Ours have been ordered to Braine-le-Comtz I'm off immediately! Are you coming? Oh no, of course You'll stay for General Maitland. By Jove, won't we give the French a hiding! There's Audley! I must speak to him before I go!"
He darted off to where the Colonel was standing in conversation with Lord Robert Manners, and stood impatient but decorous, until it should please the Colonel to notice him. This Audley soon did, smiling tc see him so obviously fretting to be off.
"Hallo, Harry! You've got your wish, you see!"
"By Gad, haven't I just! I only came up to say goodbye and wish you luck. I'm off to Braine-le-Comte, you know. It's my first engagement! Lord won't some of the fellows at home be green with envy!"
"Well, mind you capture an Eagle," said the Colonel holding out his hand. "I daresay I shall run up against you sometime or other, but in case I don't, the best of luck to you. Take care of yourself!"
Lord George Alastair came striding out of the ante-room behind them as Harry wrung the Colonel's hand. He merely nodded to the Colonel, but said curtly to his brother: "Are you off, Harry? I'll go with you as far as the centre of the town. I'm for Ninove. Where are you for?"
"Braine-le-Comte. You don't look very cheerful, I must say. Been bidding someone a tender farewell?"
"That's it: come along, now!"