_laissez-aller_ comfort primly tidied away, and such a roasting fire as
speedily drove every one to remote corners of the room.

The _mauvais quart d'heure_ before dinner had the usual sobering effect,
and young people, who later on would be valsing together on the easiest
of terms, now shyly looked over photograph books, and discoursed with an
edifying amount of diffidence and respect. Each one was to go in to
dinner with his companion of the sleigh--an arrangement of questionable
wisdom, and, as Bertie said, "It behoved one to be doubly careful whom
one drove." Captain Delamere was furious, for, when he claimed Lilla, she
calmly replied, "That having taken them both, she of course supposed he
would ask her elder sister, and, therefore, had promised Captain Du
Meresq."

Before Delamere had done anathematizing his folly in giving the saucy
Lilla such a loop-hole to throw him over, the trumpet sounded, folding
doors opened, and fifty people sat down to the cheery repast.

The table was bright with regimental plate, racing cups, and hot-house
flowers. The band commenced playing "Selections," somewhat deafening,
perhaps, but then it was too cold to put them out of doors.

Cecil and Bluebell were neither of them too much gratified at witnessing
the furious flirtation going on at dinner between Captain Du Meresq and
Miss Tremaine; but Cecil, who never looked at them, and therefore, of
course, saw everything, fancied the admiration most on the lady's side,
and even some of her _oeillades_, bravado. To be sure Bertie never did
flirt seriously _en évidence_, if he could help it.

Bluebell, completely out of sorts, was acquiring a painful experience.