"I will find an easy-chair for Margot somewhere," she said, in the constrained manner which seemed natural to her.
"Don't mind about me. I am all right," Margot said, smiling.
"And pray what is to be done with our golden-haired maiden?" demanded Mr. Claughton, in his most patronising tone.
Mrs. Claughton's eyes ran over Dolly, not for the first time. "Still down!" she murmured.
"My father likes her best so for the present," observed Margot.
"But, my dear Margot,—now Dolly has come out—it is so unlike other girls, you know! Of course, your father's wishes—ahem—but he is only a man—he knows nothing about the correct things for young girls. I really think, in such a case as this—if Dolly is not to become a marked person in the neighbourhood—"
Dolly was desperately angry with herself for being unable to restrain a brilliant blush as the two young men drew near. Poor Isabel's well-meant but clumsy questioning had broken down a barrier which hitherto had fenced round Dolly's allowed consciousness of the state of things. Dolly's eyes were suddenly opened wide. If Issy—dear dull Issy!—had begun to notice, surely other people must have begun too; and if that were so, she must have shown too plainly something of what she felt. So it was quite time to put people off the scent. That anybody should think she cared particularly for Edred, when Edred had shown no signs of caring particularly for her, was too dreadful! Dolly had come to the Park this afternoon, with a resolute determination to meet Edred and behave towards him exactly as she would meet and behave towards the merest acquaintance. Everybody, seeing her manner, should be convinced of her indifference.
And here was she, after all these brave resolutions, crimsoning and trembling the moment he approached.
It would not do! It should not be! Dolly told herself so, fiercely, in her heart. The blush must somehow be covered.
"I don't care whether I am marked or not!" she declared, with a toss of her dainty head, and a well-acted show of vexation, quite enough to account for rising colour. "So much the better if I am, unlike other girls! I shall wear my hair down so long as my father wishes it."