"Poor Mrs.Ralston holds such a high opinion of everybody," she said, "that she must meet with a hundred disappointments in a day." Lady Harriet's down-turned lips said nothing, but they were none the less eloquent on that account.
Mrs.Ralston's eyes of faded blue watched Stella with a distressed look.
She was not hurt on her own account, but she hated to hear the girl criticized in so unfriendly a spirit.

Stella was more brilliantly beautiful that night than she had ever before seen her, and she longed to hear a word of appreciation from that hostile group of women.

But she knew very well that the longing was vain, and it was with relief that she saw Captain Dacre himself saunter up to claim Mrs.Ermsted for a partner.
Smiling, debonair, complacent, the morrow's bridegroom had a careless quip for all and sundry on that last night.

It was evident that his _fiancee's_ defection was a matter of no moment to him.

Stella was to have her fling, and he, it seemed, meant to have his.