Here a servant opening the door informs Miss Beauchamp that Lady Chetwoode wishes to see her for a few minutes.
"Say I shall be with her directly," returns Florence, and, rising leisurely, she sweeps, without the smallest appearance of haste, from the room.
Then Lilian turns to Sir Guy:
"How curiously she uttered that last speech!—almost as though she hoped we should not be happy, I am sure I am right; she does not want you to marry me."
"She was not enthusiastic in her congratulations, I admit. But that need not affect us. I am not proud. So long as you want to marry me, I shall be quite content."
Lilian's reply, being wordless, need not be recorded here.
"Spiteful thing," remarks she, presently, à propos of the spotless Florence.
"Poor, Boer!" replies he.
"You think she will marry him?" heavily, and most unflatteringly, emphasized.
"I do."