"No, not frightened," Florence answers, coldly, "though I confess I am a good deal amazed,"—her tone says "disgusted," and Guy knows the tone. "Really, that girl seems absolutely ignorant of the common decencies of society!"
"Of whom are you speaking?" asks Guy, coloring.
"Of whom can I say such things but Lilian? She is the only one of my acquaintance deserving of such a remark, and it is not my fault that we are acquainted. I think it is clearly Aunt Anne's duty to speak to her, or yours. There are moments when one positively blushes for her."
"Why, what has she been doing?" asks Guy, overcome with astonishment at this outburst on the part of the usually calm Florence.
"Doing! Do you not hear her in her cousin's room? Is that the proper place for a young lady?"
At this instant a sound of laughter coming from Mr. Musgrave's apartment gives truth to her accusations, and with a slight but expressive shrug of her white shoulders, Florence sails majestically down the stairs, while Sir Guy instinctively moves on toward Taffy's quarters.
Miss Beauchamp's touch has left the door quite open, so that, standing on the threshold, he can see clearly all that is within.
By this time Taffy is quite arrayed, having finally resorted to his cousin's help.
"There!" says Lilian, triumphantly, "now you are ready. Oh! I say, Taffy, how nice you do look!"