When Miss Cassewary had left the room Lord Silverbridge was standing, but after a little he had fallen into the seat, at the extreme corner, and had gradually come a little nearer to her.

Now in her energy she put out her hand, meaning perhaps to touch lightly the sleeve of his coat, meaning perhaps not quite to touch him at all.

But as she did so he put out his hand and took hold of hers.
She drew it away, not seeming to allow it to remain in his grasp for a moment; but she did so, not angrily, or hurriedly, or with any flurry.

She did it as though it were natural that he should take her hand and as natural that she should recover it.
"Indeed I have hardly more than ten minutes left for dressing," she said, rising from her seat.
"If you will say that you care about it, you yourself, I will do my best." As he made this declaration blushes covered his cheeks and forehead.
"I do care about it,--very much; I myself," said Lady Mabel, not blushing at all.

Then there was a knock at the door, and Lady Mabel's maid, putting her head in, declared that my Lord had come in and had already been some time in his dressing-room.