She hurried
into the drawing-room, but was keenly alive to what passed in the hall
after she had done so. She heard him, with his usual courtly manner,
apologise to Lady Mary Nugent for his non-appearance at the
dinner-table, and attribute his accident to his having stood so long on
her lawn, in the heat, watching the poor people at their dinner. He
added that he was glad to have arrived in time to drink Miss Nugent's
health, and proceeded to the dining-room.
Freda did her best to talk to the few, and very select, ladies, who had
been honoured by an invitation to dinner; and felt intense relief when,
one after another, all the evening-party arrived.
Dancing soon began, and Freda saw Colonel Vaughan and Miss Nugent
together in a quadrille. Sir Hugh had asked her to dance with him, but
she begged him to let her sit down that first dance, and promised him
the next.
Of course she watched the pair in whom she was most interested. She was
obliged to confess that Miss Nugent was the handsomest, most elegant,
and best dressed girl in the room; as she talked to Colonel Vaughan, she
looked almost animated; and he, on his part, seemed as gay and perfectly
at his ease, as if there had never been a Gladys in the world. They
were, unquestionably a fine, aristocratic couple; danced well, walked
well, and to all appearance were well pleased with one another.
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