“I say, she is an awful little creature, isn’t she?” said Miriam, watching Eve bend a crimson face over the tea-tray on the hearthrug. “She put her boots on the pavilion table this afternoon when all those men were there—about a mile high they are—with tassels. Why does she go on like that?”

“Men like that sort of thing,” said Sarah lightly.

“Sally!”

“They do.... I believe she drinks.”

“Sally! My dear!”

“I believe she does. She’s always having shandygaff with the men.”

“Oh, well, perhaps she doesn’t,” murmured Eve.

“Chuck me a lump of sugar, Eve.”

Miriam subsided once more amongst the rose petals.

“Bevvy thinks I oughtn’t to dance.”