Caroline on her part now felt an exhilarated conviction that her own appearance in the flame-coloured dress was the source of attraction; and every time she passed a certain place where a dark screen hung behind the glass, she glanced at a revolving vision of excited eyes and glowing draperies.
The low rays of the sinking sun struck through the glass panes on the western side of the hall and mingled with the gas, which was already turned on, to create a sort of strange half-light in which nobody seemed quite real. The couples swam round and round in this peculiar radiance, while the heavy figures watching appeared to recede and grow more dense.
The music ceased and they stood still, breathing quickly, hemmed in by a large group of people. After a while Caroline suddenly felt a touch on her shoulder from behind. "I say, Laura, I thought you were not----" And she turned round sharply to see Wilson with outstretched arm peering between heads. "Oh," he exclaimed--"so sorry! I took you for Miss Temple. I only caught a glimpse of your dress."
"It's all right," said Caroline abruptly, crimson to the roots of her hair. Then the music started again and she seized hold of Wilf's arm. "Come along! We don't want to lose any of this."
Wilson was left behind among a group who were not dancing at the moment, but gradually they moved away and he stood there alone, steady on his feet--almost impressively self-reliant and sure of himself, though he was neither tall nor handsome. As he stood idly looking on, he began to notice the flame-coloured dress which had been Laura's flashing in and out of the more sober garments. It displayed a good deal of Caroline's figure, which was slim and clean made--something like a Tanagra statuette, but less curved. He found himself watching for her every time as she came round, and finally a thought darted across his mind--a nymph on fire. Why!--he chuckled softly to himself, pleased by the apt phrase and feeling clever--that was what it _was_, by gad! But where on earth had she got a gown exactly like the one which had suited Laura so badly?
When the music stopped he moved from his place and walked straight up to Caroline. "I must apologize for having touched you on the arm, but I only caught a glimpse of your dress through the crowd," he said, "and at first I thought you were Miss Temple. She has a dress exactly like the one you are wearing."