The ball opened with a quadrille, but in this Mrs. Carr did not dance, being employed in the reception of her guests. Then followed a waltz, and, as its first strains struck up, several applicants came to compete for the honour of her hand; but she declined them all, saying that she was already engaged; and presently Arthur, looking very tall and quite the typical young Englishman in his dress-clothes, came hurrying up.
“You are late, Mr. Heigham,” she said; “the music has begun.”
“Yes; I am awfully sorry. I was dancing with Lady Florence, and could not find her old aunt.”
“Indeed, to me Mrs. Velley is pretty conspicuous, with that green thing on her head; but come along, we are wasting time.”
Putting his arm round her waist, they sailed away together amidst of the murmurs of the disappointed applicants.
“Lucky dog,” said one.
“Infernal puppy,” muttered another.
Arthur enjoyed his waltz very much, for the rooms, though full, were not crowded, and Mildred waltzed well. Still he was a little uneasy, for he felt that, in being chosen to dance the first waltz with the giver of this splendid entertainment over the heads of so many of his superiors in rank and position, he was being put rather out of his place. He did not as a rule take any great degree of notice of Mildred’s appearance, but to-night it struck him as unusually charming.
“You look very beautiful to-night, Mildred,” he said, when they halted for breath; “and what splendid diamonds you have on!”
She flushed with pleasure at his compliment.