"I say!" exclaimed Morris. "How you do remember things!"
Then he flushed.
"Oh, yes ... I remember things," said Belinda easily.
She poured cream into the cup and pushed it towards him.
"There...." she said. "If you haven't changed ... entirely ... that's the way you like it."
Sophy and Mrs. Horton were deeply absorbed. Sophy had just told Belinda's mother about the plan of having Belinda stop with her at Newport. Mrs. Horton was delighted. They were now discussing the question of dates. Sophy thought that perhaps she had better arrange a coming-out ball for Belinda before the girl appeared in society. In that case, she had better go first to Newport, and Belinda could join her in, say, ten days. Mrs. Horton called over to her daughter, happily excited: "Linda, you are certainly the luckiest girl! Just listen to what Sophy's going to do for you...."
And she explained with enthusiasm.
For some reason, Belinda, who did not colour easily, grew suddenly red. Then she tossed back her head and looked at Sophy.
"It's awfully good of you...." she said. "I think it's most awfully kind of you...." she repeated. Her voice had real feeling in it, and yet, queerly enough, Sophy sensed that this feeling included resentment also. The girl was certainly a very peculiar character. Was it that she did not like receiving favours which she could not return? She looked a haughty creature. Yes—doubtless that was it.
"It will be a great pleasure for me to have you," Sophy said. "I shall love bringing out the beauty of the season."