It was most wrong of Michael to have come to this party; but it was, of course, done out of bravado to show her that she did not matter to him at all--so with supreme sangfroid she greeted him casually, and then turned eyes of tenderness to Henry.
"You were going to show me the miniatures in the next room, Lord Fordyce--were you not ?" she said, sweetly, and took a step on toward the door, leaving Michael with pain and rage for company.
She had never allowed Henry to kiss her since that one occasion at Heronac.

It was not as it should be, she affirmed--until she were free and really engaged to him, she prayed him to behave always only as a friend.

Lord Fordyce acquiesced, as he would have done to any penance she chose to impose upon him, and in his secret thoughts rather respected her for her decision; he was then more than delighted when she put her slender hand upon his arm with possessive familiarity as soon as they had reached the anteroom where the collection of miniatures were kept; but he did not know that she was aware that Michael stood where he could see them through the archway.
"My darling!" and he lifted the white fingers to his lips.

Sabine had particularly beautiful hands, and they were his delight.

She never wore any rings--only her wedding-ring and the one great pearl Henry had persuaded her to let him give her, but this was on her right hand.
"It would mean nothing for me to have it on the left one--while that bar of gold is there," she had told him.