That afternoon he had written to take his passage for the following week.
It seemed to her that he faltered in telling her; and, as for her, the crowd of uniformed or jewelled figures around them became to her, as he spoke, a mere meaningless confusion.

She was only conscious of him, and of the emotion which at last he could not hide.
She quietly said that she would soon follow him to Portman Square, and he went away.

A few minutes afterwards, Elizabeth said good-night to her hostess, and emerged upon the gallery running round the fine Italianate hall which occupied the centre of the house.

Hundreds of people were hanging over the balustrading of the gallery, watching the guests coming and going on the marble staircase which occupied the centre of the hall.
Elizabeth's slight figure slowly descended.
"Pretty creature!" said one old General, looking down upon her.

"You remember--she was a Gaddesden of Martindale.