He thrust the note into his pocket, as Lord Ettrick came forward to greet him. Congratulations and badinage broke out on all sides; he shook hands until his arm ached and he gave up trying to count the numbers; it was enough that he could recognize one face out of three.…
"You seem to have mobilized half the club," Eric commented, looking with gratification at the growing half-circle by the fire.
"You're between Gaisford and me," said Ettrick, detaching him for a cocktail and cigarette at the far end of the room. "I'm proposing your health, you'll have to reply; and that'll be all the speeches, unless we sit late. Manders has promised to come as soon as he can get away from the theatre, and that may start the ball again. By the way, is it official yet? I haven't seen any announcement."
"Is what official?"
"I heard that you were engaged."
Eric's composure poured out of him, and he felt his mouth growing loose.
"Where did you hear that?" he asked with an effort.
"Oh, scores of people have told me. I came to your box rather late the other night, but I was told that the lady in question had been inviting every one to congratulate you both."
For a moment Eric frowned in perplexity; then his face lightened.
"That was on account of the play," he explained. "She came to one or two of the rehearsals, and, on the strength of that, it was always 'our play.' … I say, have you really heard that from many people? She's a very great friend of mine, and I shouldn't like to feel that our names were being coupled."