“Well, you have snubbed me!”

As usual, he could not find the effective or clever thing to say.

“I did not mean to,” he replied simply; but Betty, glancing at him, saw something in his face which gripped her heart.  A lump rose in her throat.

“Do let’s go and find Ermyntrude!” she said.

* * * * *

But Wharton had barely begun his talk with Marcella when a gentleman, on his way to the buffet with a cup to set down, touched him on the arm.  Wharton turned in some astonishment and annoyance.  He saw a youngish, good-looking man, well known to him as already one of the most important solicitors in London, largely trusted by many rich or eminent persons.

“May I have a word with you presently?” said Mr. Pearson, in a pleasant undertone.  “I have something of interest to say to you, and it occurred to me that I might meet you to-night.  Excuse my interrupting you.”

He glanced with admiration at Marcella, who had turned away.

Wharton had a momentary qualm.  Then it struck him that Mr. Pearson’s manner was decidedly friendly.

“In a moment,” he said.  “We might find a corner, I think, in that further room.”

He made a motion of the head towards a little boudoir which lay beyond the tea-room.

Mr. Pearson nodded and passed on.

Wharton returned to Marcella, who had fallen back on Frank Leven.  At the approach of the member for West Brookshire, Lady Winterbourne and her daughter had moved severely away to the further end of the buffet.

“A tiresome man wants me on business for a moment,” he said; then he dropped his voice a little; “but I have been looking forward to this evening, this chance, for days—­shall I find you here again in five minutes?”

Marcella, who had flushed brightly, said that would depend on the time and Lady Winterbourne.  He hurried away with a little gesture of despair.  Frank followed him with a sarcastic eye.

“Any one would think he was prime minister already!  I never met him yet anywhere that he hadn’t some business on hand.  Why does he behave as though he had the world on his shoulders?  Your real swells always seem to have nothing to do.”

“Do you know so many busy people?” Marcella asked him sweetly.

“Oh, you shan’t put me down, Miss Boyce!” said the boy, sulkily thrusting his hands into his pockets.  “I am going to work like blazes this winter, if only my dons will let a fellow alone.  I say, isn’t she ripping to-night—­Betty?”

And, pulling his moustache in helpless jealousy and annoyance, he stared at the Winterbourne group across the room, which had been now joined by Aldous Raeburn and Betty, standing side by side.

“What do you want me to say?” said Marcella, with a little cold laugh.  “I shall make you worse if I praise her.  Please put my cup down.”

At the same moment she saw Wharton coming back to her—­Mr. Pearson behind him, smiling, and gently twirling the seals of his watch-chain.  She was instantly struck by Wharton’s look of excitement, and by the manner in which—­with a momentary glance aside at the Winterbourne party—­he approached her.