"What a child it is still. Who would guess her to be not far from twenty?"
"She doesn't seem so old as I am," said Dorothea.
"No, indeed. I am afraid Margot and I can't go," continued Isabel. "Margot can't stand about, and I have so many things to see to. Will you think it very neglectful if we don't? My father and Dolly will be there."
Dorothea managed to set Isabel's mind at rest. She was a little excited herself at the prospect of the Park gathering, and wondered silently, would the elder Mr. Claughton be as pleasant to her as when they had last met? Would both the brothers pursue Dolly with anxious attentions? Would Dolly smile upon Mervyn, and turn a cold shoulder to Edred?
[CHAPTER XIX]
"STRICTLY IN CONFIDENCE"
LUNCH over, the two Dorotheas hastened away to dress. Dolly would not permit the loss of a moment. Expeditious as Dorothea always was, she found Dolly in the hall, ready dressed, charming in her dark furs and golden hair. Both pallor and limpness were gone, but Dorothea did not quite like the sharp contrasts of pink and white in the small face.
"Are you sure you ought to go to-day?" she asked in a low tone, when they were off, the two Colonels bringing up the rear, arm-in-arm.
"Ought to go. Oh, why?" and the pink became crimson.