One of the dancers was the mask in red and yellow. It seemed to Marius that she looked straight across the ballroom at him, and that she knew him—at least, her head seemed always turned in his direction.
At the commencement of the second figure a lady in white detached herself from the spectators and approached towards the two by the empty card-tables. She passed Marius in a quick, agitated manner, and caught Miss Chressham by the hand.
"Susannah," she whispered, and pulled off her mask.
"Selina!"
The mask was replaced. Both ladies checked themselves and looked at Marius.
"My cousin," murmured Susannah. "You remember him?"
Miss Boyle curtsied.
"I knew you both; you are very poorly disguised." She forced a laugh. "Are you not dancing, Captain Lyndwood?"
"I am not in much of a holiday mood, madam," he replied. He was so watchful of Susannah, so sensitive to every change in her tone and manner, that he was perfectly aware that she wished him to leave her alone with Miss Boyle. He made some excuse and moved away.
Selina Boyle sank on to one of the slender chairs by the card-table.