I'll be at the hotel at eight." And with that they parted just as the happy little Vetchen, catching sight of them, came bustling up with all the fuss and demonstration of a long-lost terrier.
A few minutes later Hamil found Shiela Cardross surrounded by her inevitable entourage--a jolly, animated circle hemming her in with Malcourt at her left and Van Tassel Cuyp on her right; and he halted on the circle's edge to look and listen, glancing askance at Malcourt with a curiosity unaccustomed.
That young man with his well-made graceful figure, his dark hair and vivid tints, had never particularly impressed Hamil.

He had accepted him at his face value, lacking the interest to appraise him; and the acquaintance had always been as casual and agreeable as mutual good-humour permitted.

But now Malcourt, as a type, attracted his attention; and for a moment he contrasted this rather florid example with the specimens of young men around him.

Then he looked at Shiela Cardross.

Her delicately noble head was bent a trifle as she listened with the others to Malcourt's fluent humour; and it remained so, though at moments she lifted her eyes in that straight, questioning gaze which left the brows level.
And now she was replying to Malcourt; and Hamil watched her and listened to her with newer interest, noting the poise, the subtle reserve under the gayest provocation of badinage--the melody of her rare laughter, the unaffected sweetness of her voice, and its satisfying sincerity--satisfying as the clear regard from her lifted eyes.
Small wonder men were attracted; Hamil could understand what drew them--the instinctive recognition of a fibre finer and a metal purer than was often found under the surface of such loveliness.
And now, as he watched her, the merriment broke out again around her, and she laughed, lifting her face to his in all its youthfully bewildering beauty, and saw him standing near her for the first time.
Without apparent reason a dull colour rose to his face; and, as though answering fire with fire, her fainter signal in response tinted lip and cheek.
It was scarcely the signal agreed upon for their departure; and for a moment longer, amid the laughing tumult, she sat looking at him as though confused.