Meanwhile Aldous stood near Mary Harden and watched the dancing figure.  He had never seen her dance before.  Mary shyly stole a look at him from time to time.

“Well,” he said at last, stooping to his neighbour, “what are you thinking of?”

“I think she is a dream!” said Mary, flushing with the pleasure of being able to say it.  They were great friends, he and she, and to-night somehow she was not a bit afraid of him.

Aldous’s eye sparkled a moment; then he looked down at her with a kind smile.

“If you suppose I am going to let you sit here all night, you are very much mistaken.  Marcella gave me precise instructions.  I am going off this moment to find somebody.”

“Mr. Raeburn—­don’t!” cried Mary, catching at him.  But he was gone, and she was left in trepidation, imagining the sort of formidable young man who was soon to be presented to her, and shaking at the thought of him.

When the dance was over Marcella returned to Miss Raeburn, who was standing at the door into the corridor and had beckoned to her.  She went through a number of new introductions, and declared to herself that she was doing all she could.  Miss Raeburn was not so well satisfied.

“Why can’t she smile and chatter like other girls?” thought Aunt Neta, impatiently.  “It’s her ‘ideas,’ I suppose.  What rubbish!  There, now—­just see the difference!”

For at the moment Lady Winterbourne came up, and instantly Marcella was all smiles and talk, holding her friend by both hands, clinging to her almost.

“Oh, do come here!” she said, leading her into a corner.  “There’s such a crowd, and I say all the wrong things.  There!” with a sigh of relief.  “Now I feel myself protected.”

“I mustn’t keep you,” said Lady Winterbourne, a little taken aback by her effusion.  “Everybody is wanting to talk to you.”

“Oh, I know!  There is Miss Raeburn looking at me severely already.  But I must do as I like a little.”

“You ought to do as Aldous likes,” said Lady Winterbourne, suddenly, in her deepest and most tragic voice.  It seemed to her a moment had come for admonition, and she seized it hastily.

Marcella stared at her in surprise.  She knew by now that when Lady Winterbourne looked most forbidding she was in reality most shy.  But still she was taken aback.

“Why do you say that, I wonder?” she asked, half reproachfully.  “I have been behaving myself quite nicely—­I have indeed; at least, as nicely as I knew how.”

Lady Winterbourne’s tragic air yielded to a slow smile.

“You look very well, my dear.  That white becomes you charmingly; so do the pearls.  I don’t wonder that Aldous always knows where you are.”

Marcella raised her eyes and caught those of Aldous fixed upon her from the other side of the room.  She blushed, smiled slightly, and looked away.

“Who is that tall man just gone up to speak to him?” she asked of her companion.