"Really, my dear, you cannot be grateful enough to that nice Sir Albert Gerald. But for him you and I would have had no supper, no dancing, and a very dull evening; and he hunted up a partner for you as well as dancing with you himself. I assure you he took a lot of trouble about it."
"Mr. Powis asked to be introduced to me."
"Did he, my dear? Why, what a humbug he must be! I heard him myself say to Sir Albert, 'I know too many girls already; do let me off!' and Sir Albert said, 'Nonsense,' and walked him up to you, and then he pretended to wish it himself."
"At any rate Sir Albert said, 'Mr. Powis would like to be introduced to you,'" and Grace was red with anger and mortification.
"My dear, I think they always say that. I heard it said so often near me."
Grace was silent. She had thought that this one man had been attracted by her, forgetting that in a great crowd there must be that undeniable something to be at all noticed.
Her next ball was a great mortification to her. She saw Mr. Powis, he asked her how she was, hoped she was better, and did not ask her to dance; more than this, he expressed surprise at her coming to a ball again.
"I should have thought you would have funked it, Miss Rivers. I shall feel quite nervous till I see you going home, you know."
Grace was furious.
She and poor Lady Lyons sat on unnoticed. They went away when they were tired and crept into the supper-room.