"Dolly!" murmured Margot, rather startled by this new development of the home-pet.
"My dear Dolly!" said Mrs. Claughton reprovingly.
Nearer came the young men, and Dolly's heart beat almost to suffocation.
"Of course I shall," she added, shaking the golden mass, and looking brilliantly pretty, with her rosy cheeks and shining eyes. Mervyn had never been so struck with the attractiveness of "the little Dolly."
"I declare—she's coming out!" he said to his brother in an undertone. Edred made no answer: and the next moment, Mervyn was saying lightly, "How do you do, Dolly?"
"My dear Dolly!" said Mrs. Haughton reprovingly.
"How do you do?" she answered, smiling up in his face, then turning away in apparent oblivion of Edred's presence.
"Dolly, you don't see Edred."
Dolly had no idea who said the words. She only felt sure it was accompanied by a smile, and she scorned herself afresh for the renewed rush of colour.