He looked round; but she was nowhere to be seen.

The first set began; old and middle-aged people gathered from the different rooms to look on at the gyrations of their children, but Paula did not appear.

When another dance or two had progressed, and an increase in the average age of the dancers was making itself perceptible, especially on the masculine side, Somerset was aroused by a whisper at his elbow-- 'You dance, I think?
Miss Deverell is disengaged.

She has not been asked once this evening.' The speaker was Paula.
Somerset looked at Miss Deverell--a sallow lady with black twinkling eyes, yellow costume, and gay laugh, who had been there all the afternoon--and said something about having thought of going home.
'Is that because I asked you to dance ?' she murmured.

'There--she is appropriated.' A young gentleman had at that moment approached the uninviting Miss Deverell, claimed her hand and led her off.
'That's right,' said Somerset.