With a casual nod or two, and a “Come, Bobbie, I am sure you have flirted quite enough with Beryl by this time!” she went out of the box, followed by her grim but good-looking cavalier.
“You must sit in front through this act.”
Braybrooke spoke.
“Oh, but—”
“No, really—I insist! You don’t see properly behind.”
Craven took the chair between the two women. As he did so he glanced at Miss Van Tuyn. His chair was certainly nearer to hers than to Lady Sellingworth’s, much nearer. Syng had sat in it and must have moved it. As she half turned and said something to Craven her bare silky arm touched his sleeve, and their faces were very near together. Her eyes spoke to him definitely, called him to be young again with her. And as the curtain went up she whispered:
“It was I who insisted on a party of four to-night.”
Lady Sellingworth and Braybrooke were talking together, and Craven answered:
“To Mr. Braybrooke?”
“Yes; so that we might have a nice little time. And Adela and he are old friends and contemporaries! I knew they would be happy together.”