“Lucky dog,” said one.

“Infernal puppy,” muttered another.

Arthur enjoyed his waltz very much, for the rooms, though full, were not crowded, and Mildred waltzed well.  Still he was a little uneasy, for he felt that, in being chosen to dance the first waltz with the giver of this splendid entertainment over the heads of so many of his superiors in rank and position, he was being put rather out of his place.  He did not as a rule take any great degree of notice of Mildred’s appearance, but to-night it struck him as unusually charming.

“You look very beautiful to-night, Mildred,” he said, when they halted for breath; “and what splendid diamonds you have on!”

She flushed with pleasure at his compliment.

“You must not laugh at my diamonds.  I know that I am too insignificant to wear such jewels.  I had two minds about putting them on.”

“Laugh at them, indeed.  I should as soon think of laughing at the Bank of England.  They are splendid.”

“Yes,” she said, bitterly; “they would be splendid on your Angela.  They want a splendid woman to carry them off.”

Oddly enough, he was thinking the same thing:  so, having nothing to say, he went on dancing.  Presently the waltz came to an end, and Mildred was obliged to hurry off to receive the Portuguese Governor, who had just put in an appearance.  Arthur looked at his card, and found that he was down for the next galop with Lady Florence Claverley.

“Our dance again, Lady Florence.”

“Really, Mr. Heigham, this is quite shocking.  If everybody did not know that you belonged body and soul to the lovely widow, I should be accused of flirting with you.”

“Who was it made me promise to dance five times?”

“I did.  I want to make Mrs. Carr angry.”

“Why should my dancing five or fifty dances with you make Mrs. Carr angry?”

Lady Florence shrugged her pretty shoulders.

“Are you blind?” she said.

Arthur felt uncomfortable.

In due course, however, the last waltz before supper came round, and he, as agreed upon, danced it with his hostess.  As the strains of the music died away, the doors of the supper-room and tent were thrown open.

“Now, Arthur,” said Mildred, “take me in to supper.”

He hesitated.

“The Portuguese Governor——­” he began.

She stamped her little foot, and her eyes gave an ominous flash.

“Must I ask you twice?” she said.

Then he yielded, though the fact of being for the second time that night placed in an unnecessarily prominent position made him feel more uncomfortable than ever, for they were seated at the head of the top table.  Mildred Carr was in the exact centre, with himself on her right and the Portuguese Governor on the left.  To Arthur’s left was Lady Florence, who took an opportunity to assure him solemnly that he really “bore his blushing honours, very nicely,” and to ask him “how he liked the high places at feasts?”