Half turned from me, purposely I didn't doubt, she had begun a conversation with Bob West, who beamed with joy over her kindness to him and her apparent indifference to me.
"'Collapsing' is an exaggeration perhaps," laughed Lady Mountstuart.
"But, instead of keeping us standing here, come up to our sitting-room and have a little talk--and whisky and soda." "Yes, do come, Dundas," her husband added.
"Thank you both," I stammered, trying not to look embarrassed.

"But--I know you're all tired, and--." "And perhaps you have some nice engagement," piped Lisa.
"It's too late for respectable British young men to have engagements in naughty Paris," said Lady Mountstuart, laughing again (she looks very handsome when she laughs, and knows it).

"Isn't that true, Mr.Dundas ?" "It depends upon the engagement," I managed to reply calmly.

But then, as Di suddenly turned and looked straight at me with marked coldness, the blood sprang up to my face.

I began to stammer again like a young ass of a schoolboy.