"Oh yes! That is, nothing was said, but of course she would expect me. I was to have gone in with a - a gentleman, only…" She broke off, blushing more furiously that ever.
"Only that perhaps the gentleman had had a trifle too much to drink, and so forgot himself," finished the Colonel in a matter-of-fact voice.
Miss Devenish gave a gasp, and looked quickly up into his face. The smile in his eyes seemed to reassure her. She said: "Yes, that was it. Oh, how singular it must appear to you! But indeed -"
"It doesn't appear in the least singular to me," he interrupted. "But your lace! That is a more serious matter. If you had a pin - or even two pins - in your reticule, and could trust to my bungling fingers, I believe I could set it to rights."
The fright had by this time died out of her eyes. A smile quivered on her lips. She replied: "I have a pin -two pins - but are you sure you can?"
"No," said the Colonel. "But I am sure I can try , give me your pins."
She glanced round, but they were alone in the antechamber. "Thank you: you are very obliging!" she said and opened her reticule.
The pins once discovered, it was a matter of a minute or two only before the frills were in place again. Miss Devenish was quite astonished by the Colonel's deediness. "I made sure you would prick me at least!"
said merrily. "But I am quite in your debt! Thank you."
He offered his arm. "May I take you to your aunt, if we can find her?"