Reed Raymond, pallid and alarmed, looked on in silence, like the rest, dreading, like Annette, what might happen next.
The silence was so profound and embarrassing that Mrs. Hill-Dixon had to come to the rescue with a tinkling little society laugh, as she exclaimed:
“Well, you have certainly given our friends a great surprise!”
Mrs. Fleming gasped, and recovered herself, twittering sweetly:
“Lord Werter, I saw through your flimsy disguise last night, and was only waiting for you to declare your identity and renew old friendships.”
He laughed absently, without answering, and she saw that he was stealing a furtive glance at Daisie, who still did not look up from the little hands she seemed to be inspecting beneath her lowered lashes. She appeared indeed cold and indifferent.
But it was not hard to guess that she was putting the sternest restraints on herself, fighting down her rebel heart, lest she should cry out before them all that she had been tricked and deceived, torn asunder from the love of her life, and the cruel truth was breaking her tender heart.
Again Mrs. Hill-Dixon, seeing and wondering at the strange pallor on every face, came to the rescue, rising, with a rustle of silks and laces, and saying:
“Indeed, Dallas; we must be saying good-by, for I am due at a reception within ten minutes.”
Every one rose with suppressed sighs of relief to see them go, and then Lord Werter said quietly: