And at that instant the music stopped. Someone gave the signal to
retire from the ball-room, bedwards. They were parted by the crowd that
gathered about them when the dancing ceased, and he did not find her
again even to say good-night.




CHAPTER XXV.



The shooting men were up first, to their early breakfast. It seemed to
Deb a matter of course that Claud would be of this virile company; it
was his saving grace as a man, when he was young, that he was a keen
and accomplished sportsman. After an indifferent night, she rose lazily
and late; found, as she expected, only a few more women in the
breakfast-room, and ate her own meal alone at one of the little tables.
The hostess drifted in amongst the last, and stopped a moment to shake
hands and exchange a word.

"It seems a beautiful day," she said, "and we shall be making up a
party by-and-by to go out and lunch with the guns. You will join us, of
course?"

But Deb thought of Claud amongst the guns, and of the horrible risk of
appearing to run after him; and she replied sweetly that, although she
would have loved the outing, she was afraid she must stay at home,
owing to important letters that had to be written for the afternoon
post.