Freda did not answer.  Her thoughts were running wild—­here, there, and everywhere.  One moment, she believed that Gladys had been romancing for some purpose of her own; the next, that all she said was true.  Then she felt sure that Colonel Vaughan must really love Gladys, and must mean all that he said; and a cold shudder crept over her, as she became aware how much she loved him.  Again, she knew that a man of his position could only be trifling with a girl in her’s, and was ready to hate and despise one who could be so vile.  As she thought and thought, she grew paler and paler—­colder and colder; and when she entered Lady Mary Nugent’s drawing-room, that lady said,—­

‘My dear Freda, what is the matter?  You look so ill, and feel so cold.’

‘Nothing but the heat.  It always has this enervating effect on me,’ was the answer.

The absence of Colonel Vaughan set the shrewd Lady Mary guessing as to the real cause of the sudden indisposition; she felt sure that something must have passed between him and Freda more exciting than usual to occasion such paleness.

At dinner, Freda was fortunate in being placed next Sir Hugh Pryse, who knew her too well, and was far too fond of her, to make any personal remarks.

Miss Nugent’s uncle, Lord Nugent, was the master of the ceremonies for the evening.  He had come, as Miss Nugent’s guardian, to resign his office, and to be present at her attaining her majority.  Freda had once met him before, and liked him.  He was now particularly friendly in his manner to her, but when he spoke to her across one intermediate person, she could only answer him in monosyllables.  Every one silently remarked her absence of mind and unusual frigidity.

When the dinner was over, of which Freda only remembered that she had had certain viands placed before her, and when the ladies were leaving the dining-room, Colonel Vaughan’s voice was heard in the hall.  Lady Mary told a servant to show him into the dining-room; and as Freda was crossing the hall, she saw him at the opposite end of it.  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.