‘He desired to be introduced to you.’
‘I wonder—do you think—do you suppose he remembers—?’
‘I don’t suppose he thinks anything about it,’ said Theodora, shortly.
CHAPTER 14
I am not yet of Earl Percy’s mind.
—King Henry IV
‘Violet,’ said Theodora, the next morning, ‘I want to know if Percy said more to Arthur than to us?’
She spoke with deepening colour, and Violet’s glowed still more, as she answered: ‘Arthur asked him, and he said he would not BEGIN an acquaintance, but that there was no occasion to break off the ordinary civilities of society. He accused her of no more than levity. Yes, those were Arthur’s words.’
‘I am going to get to the bottom of it,’ said Theodora; ‘and give Georgina a thorough lecture.’
She departed; and Violet sat down to her letters, with little Johnnie crawling at her feet; but in a few minutes she was interrupted by the entrance of Mr. Fotheringham, asking for Theodora.