His smile changed to quick concern as he noticed the strange look on her face, and the swaying movement towards the chair. He put out his hand, but she threw herself back from him with a shuddering movement of repulsion.
And a moment later the palms parted beside Mrs. McVeigh, and she was startled at sight of her son’s face.
“Kenneth! Why, what is wrong?”
“A lady has fainted there in the alcove,” he said, in a voice which sounded strange to her; “will you go to her?”
“Fainted? Why, Kenneth!––”
“Yes; I think it is the Marquise de Caron.”
CHAPTER VIII.
The dowager was delighted to find that the one evening of complete social success had changed her daughter-in-law into a woman of society. It had modified her prejudices. She accepted invitations without her former protests, and was only careful that the people whom she visited should be of the most distinguished.