He caught his breath sharply, whether in relief or disillusion, he did not pretend to guess at this moment.
“I’ll wait for you,” he said, and made way for the next arrivals.
Some ten minutes later Julia turned to Lady Arabella.
“They are beginning to straggle,” she said. “If you don’t mind I won’t stay any longer.”
“I do mind,” severely. “And your place is here, child as you are.”
“I can’t see why. . . . More guests. . . . Who cares about a child? And you are vastly more important.”
“You have acquitted yourself very creditably. . . . Besides, people are curious to see you, and nobody cares for an old thing like me.”
“Half of them are still glowing with the honor of having shaken hands with you—you go out so seldom. . . . Besides, my slippers pinch. I want to put on an old pair.”
“I always wear slippers a size too large and made by a surgical shoemaker, on occasions like this. You must do the same. I should have told you.”
“I’ll order a pair to-morrow, but that doesn’t do me any good now.”