For a moment Margaret raised her beautiful eyebrows.
"So Sir Philip had told her already!" she said to herself, with a little surprise. And she was not pleased with this mark of confidence on Sir Philip's part. It did not occur to her that Lady Caroline had been Janetta's informant.
"I refused him," she said, quietly. "Mamma is vexed about it, but she does not wish to force me to marry against my will, of course."
"Oh, but surely, Margaret, dear, you will change your mind?" said Janetta.
"No, indeed," Margaret answered, slightly lifting her graceful head. "Sir Philip is not a man whom I would ever marry."
And then she changed the subject. "See what a dear little piano I have in my sitting-room. Papa gave it to me the other day, so that I need not practice in the drawing-room. And what about our singing lessons, Janetta? Could you begin them at once, or would you rather wait until after the Christmas holidays?"
Janetta reflected. "I should like to begin them at once, dear, if I can manage it."
"Have you so many pupils, then?" Margaret asked quickly.
"Not so very many; but I mean—I am afraid I cannot spare time to come to Helmsley Court to give them. Do you go to Beaminster? Would you very much mind coming to our house in Gwynne Street?"
"Not at all," said Margaret, ever courteous and mindful of her friend's feelings. "But I must speak to mamma. It may be a little difficult to have the horses out sometimes ... that will be the only objection, I think."