His Grace — page 228: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

222 HIS GRACE. possibly she did not know the smartest of the smart; but she had contrived to get together an enormous number of people, amongst whom I recognized (from having had the privilege of gazing at their photographs in the shop-windows) quite a respectable sprinkling of notabilities. Her ball was very well done too; the flowers alone must have cost her as much money as would have provided me with the necessaries of life for six months. While I was making my little observations the music ceased, and presently Nora, in the wake of other couples, passed close beside me. She at once disen- gaged herself from the arm of her cavalier to take pos- session of mine, whispering: “ Let us get out of this for a minute, Phil ; I want to speak to you.” After we had extricated ourselves with a struggle from the surging throng, I led her, or rather she led me, to the extreme top of the staircase, where we seated ourselves upon the floor, in accordance with what, Iam given to understand, is the custom, and having indeed nothing else to sit upon. Well,” she began somewhat impatiently, “ have you done anything?” “Done anything?’ IT repeated. “No; I haven’t done anything particular that I am aware of. I haven’t warned Hurstbourne off from the neighborhood of Miss St. George, if that is what you mean. I don’t much believe in the danger; but if I did believe in it, the very last thing that I should do would be to wavea danger-flag before his eyes.”’ “The danger is real, Phil, whether you believe in it or not. He has been dancing with her the whole even- ing. I don’t exactly know what you mean by waving m Gomichoo