"How you love to hear yourself talk!" commented the Duchess. "I let you do it—but I know you don't mean half you say!"
"You think not? Well, I'm going to join the court of Corinne—she's not the usual type of Corinne—I fancy she has a heart—"
"And you want to steal it if you can, of course!" and the Duchess laughed. "Men always long for what they haven't got, and tire of what they have!"
"True, O Queen! We are made so! Blame, not us, but the Creator of the poor world-mannikins!"
He moved away and was soon beside Innocent, who blushed into a pretty rose at sight of him.
"I thought you were never coming!" she said, shyly. "I'm so glad you are here!"
He looked at her with an admiring softness in his eyes.
"May I have the first dance?" he said. "I timed myself to gain the privilege."
She gave him her dance programme where no name was yet inscribed. He took it and scribbled his name down several times, then handed it back to her. Several of the younger men in the group which had gathered about her laughed and remonstrated.
"Give somebody else a chance, Miss Armitage!"