“Yes, you did. Ha, ha! You said she was a confounded nuisance!”
I shuddered.
“Oh, well, brace up! Perhaps she didn’t hear that impious remark,” said Fred, chuckling maliciously. “Or if she did, perhaps she’ll let you off easy: only a few hours in the dark closet, or bread and water for a day or two.”
“Confound your mischief-making tongue!” I growled. “Here comes Miss Van Duzen to bid you quit spreading scandal about her guests.”
Miss Van Duzen, on the contrary, only wished Mr. Marston to secure a partner for the Lanciers, which he promptly did.
I sat brooding while the dancing went on, and was somewhat astonished, when it was over, to see George making for my corner.
“How’s this?” he said. “Didn’t you go home with them?”
“With them? What! You don’t mean to say—”
“But I do, though! Bessie and mother made their adieux half an hour ago, and I thought of course you had gone home with them, as nothing was said to me. This is a pretty go! Bessie must have been ill.”
“Nonsense!” I exclaimed. “I should have known if that was the case. Where’s Miss Van?”