Once she turned, under cover of the general conversation which she had
set going, and looked straight into Selwyn's eyes, flashing to him a
message of purest loyalty; and his silent gaze in response sent the
colour flying to her cheeks.
It was all very well for a while--a brave, sweet effort; but ears could
not remain deaf to the increasing noise and laughter--to familiar
voices, half-caught phrases, indiscreet even in the fragments
understood. Besides, Gerald had seen them, and the boy's face had become
almost ghastly.
Alixe, unusually flushed, was conducting herself without restraint;
Neergard's snickering laugh grew more significant and persistent; even
Rosamund spoke too loudly at moments; and once she looked around at Nina
and Selwyn while her pretty, accentless laughter, rippling with its
undertone of malice, became more frequent in the increasing tumult.
There was no use in making a pretence of further gaiety. Austin had
begun to scowl again; Nina, with one shocked glance at Alixe, leaned
over toward her brother:
"It is incredible!" she murmured; "she must be perfectly mad to make
such an exhibition of herself.
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