"Tara, you wild girl!" protested Jessie, now a brick-dust colour, "how can you say such foolish things? You know, I shall go my own way, as to games."
"But it's true; your only cards will be collecting cards—you will see."
Mrs. Beamish now interposed her pleasant personality, saying:
"Tara, what a tease you are!" Then to Mallender, "She was always so, since she was a baby. She gets all her fun out of other people. Remember we expect you over to-morrow—as early as ever you please."
The party was breaking up, the Misses Beaufort and Tom were laughing and scuffling about their wraps, and eventually Mallender and Tom escorted the ladies home. This attention appeared to be a fixed custom—as was also the bi-weekly supper and bridge.
Mallender and Captain Beaufort paired off together, despite the bold manœuvres of the Captain's daughters, and indeed it was outrageously selfish of him, to appropriate the company of the interesting new-comer! Between Papa and Tara, these unfortunate damsels had no opportunities of improving their acquaintance with the handsome stranger.
As the two men walked ahead, Beaufort said, in a bluff off-hand way:
"Of course, I'm not a 'pucka' Captain; they just give me the rank here. I was a military man—now I'm in civil employ. Since the old General has failed, I take things in hand a bit. What was your regiment?"
"The Warlock Hussars."
"Oh, indeed," slightly abashed. "I never came across them. Well, if you are making any stay, I hope I and my girls will see a lot of you. A new face up here does us all good."