Lady Haredale looked at her keenly, even while she spoke in a sympathetic voice to Mrs Leigh.
“There is something the matter?”
“I must speak plainly,” said Mrs Leigh. “Amethyst’s behaviour altogether puzzled me yesterday. I saw her hold a secret interview with your newly-engaged friend, Major Fowler. I saw them part with—a kiss given and taken.”
Lady Haredale gave a little start.
“Oh,” she said, “oh, my dear Mrs Leigh, that was not quite right of him. He should remember Amethyst’s position now. But they are all little girls to him, mere babies still. But it was indiscreet.”
“Mother!” cried Amethyst, with passion such as Mrs Leigh’s words had failed to rouse, “he never kissed me! He does not think me a little girl! It is a mistake. You did not see right,” she added, turning to Mrs Leigh and speaking with childish directness. “He did stand very near me, but, indeed, he did not kiss me!”
“I was in the conservatory, Amethyst,” said Mrs Leigh, coldly.
“But I never was in the conservatory with Major Fowler,” said Amethyst. “It was not there—”
She paused, and Mrs Leigh replied—
“Where did you go when you went through the conservatory by yourself—why were you there alone?”