Lord Hartledon lingered yet in the midst of the group of ladies, all clustered together at one spot, who were keeping him with their many comments and questions.

Each wore the colours of her favourite: the crimson and purple predominating, for they were those of their host.

Lady Kirton displayed her loyalty in a conspicuous manner.

She had an old crimson gauze skirt on, once a ball-dress, with ends of purple ribbon floating from it and fluttering in the wind; and a purple head-dress with a crimson feather.
Maude, in a spirit of perversity, displayed a blue shoulder-knot, timidly offered to her by a young Oxford man who was staying there, Mr.Shute; and Anne Ashton wore the colours given her by Lord Hartledon.
"I can't stay; you'd keep me here all day: don't you see they are waiting for me ?" he laughingly cried, extricating himself from the throng.

"Why, Anne, my dear, is it you?
How is it I did not see you before?
Are you here alone ?" She had not long joined the crowd, having come up late from the Rectory, and had been standing outside, for she never put herself forward anywhere.