“Twenty guineas.”
“It is yours, my faithful friend,” said Rosa, turning suddenly round to Mrs. Cole, with a magnificent glance no one would have thought her capable of.
Then she rose and stalked away.
Dumfounded for the moment, Mrs. Cole followed her, and stopped her at the door.
“Why, Rosie dear, it is the only thing I have bid for. There I've sat by your side like a mouse.”
Rosa turned gravely towards her. “You know it is not that. You had only to tell me you wanted it. I would never have been so mean as to bid against you.”
“Mean, indeed!” said. Florence, tossing her head.
“Yes, mean; to draw back and hide behind the friend you were with, and employ the very rogue she had turned off. But it is my own fault. Cecilia warned me against you. She always said you were a treacherous girl.”
“And I say you are an impudent little minx. Only just married, and going about like two vagabonds, and talk to me like that!”
“We are not going about like two vagabonds. We have taken a house in Mayfair.”