With a faint satisfied smile he turned and moved away.
Dinner that night was a very lively meal. Everybody seemed imbued with the spirit of the coming ball, and anxious to display a personal sense of anticipation. After the company had risen from table, Clodagh and Nance met again in the hall by previous arrangement and retired to their rooms, that Simonetta might put some finishing touches to their hair and dresses, and that they might get the bouquets they were to carry at the dance.
As they mounted the staircase side by side, Nance, after the custom of old days, slipped her arm through her sister's.
"Clo!" she said softly, "you are excited too! I can feel it!"
Clodagh smile a little.
"Well, it is my first dance!"
Nance halted and looked at her.
"Why, of course it is! And you must feel like I did the night of Mrs. Estcoit's ball—the night——" She stopped, blushing.
"Oh, darling," she added, "fancy my not realising that you had never been to a dance? It must feel lovely and strange to you!"
Clodagh drew her onward up the stairs.