Outside the room, he found Captain De Lacy awaiting him.
“By Jove, Macdonald, I have been waiting here three-quarters of an hour. Come along. Maimie has an afternoon right on, and you are our lion.” Ranald would have refused, but De Lacy would not accept any apology, and carried him off.
Maimie's rooms were crowded with all the great social and political people of the city. With an air of triumph, De Lacy piloted Ranald through the crowd and presented him to Maimie. Ranald was surprised to find himself shaking hands with the woman he had once loved, with unquickened pulse and nerves cool and steady. Here Maimie, who was looking more beautiful than ever, and who was dressed in a gown of exquisite richness, received Ranald with a warmth that was almost enthusiastic.
“How famous you have become, Mr. Macdonald,” she said, offering him her hand; “we are all proud to say that we know you.”
“You flatter me,” said Ranald, bowing over her hand.
“No, indeed. Every one is talking of the young man from the West. And how handsome you are, Ranald,” she said, in a low voice, leaning toward him, and flashing at him one of her old-time glances.
“I am not used to that,” he said, “and I can only reply as we used to in school, 'You, too.'”
“Oh, now you flatter me,” cried Maimie, gayly; “but let me introduce you to my dear friend, Lady Mary Rivers. Lady Mary, this is Mr. Macdonald from British Columbia, you know.”
“Oh, yes,” said Lady Mary, with a look of intelligence in her beautiful dark eyes, “I have heard a great deal about you. Let me see, you opposed separation; saved the Dominion, in short.”
“Did I, really?” said Ranald, “and never knew it.”