Fredericks, of the same group; sallow, with
great black eyes, talking with tremendous animation; and Mrs. Terry--of
the newly rich; Mr. Bellmer's aunt; dumpy, diamonded and disagreeable-
looking.
"But where are the famous beauties?" I asked eagerly. "Won't they dance,
even for charity, except in their own houses?"
Some of them were there; tall, pale, stylish girls, or women whose
darkened eyes and faces mealy with powder told of a bitter fight with
time. Why, I haven't seen a woman whom I thought beautiful since--since I
became so.
"Aw, Miss Winship, really, y'know, you have no rivals," said my partner.
I hadn't supposed him clever enough to guess what I was thinking.
"Oh, yes I have--one," I said; "isn't there somewhere here a real live
Lord?"
But just then we joined Meg, and it was she who pointed out to me "The
Earl of Strathay--the Twelfth Earl of Strathay," in a whisper of comical
respect and deference.
He wasn't very impressive--just a thin, pale young fellow with a bulbous
head, big above and small below; but I was glad to do Meg a service; for
of course she wished to meet him, and of course Lord Strathay was
presented to the beautiful Miss Winship and her chaperons.
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