“Rubbish! You must treat people as they want to be treated. She was panting for praise, and she got it, and anyhow it’s too late to argue.”
They had stayed to the end so that Henrietta’s pleasure should not be curtailed, and now she was leaning back, very white and still.
“I believe the child’s asleep,” Sophia whispered.
“No, I’m not. I’m wide awake.”
“Did you enjoy it, dear?”
“Very much,” said Henrietta.
“I kept my eye on you, child,” Caroline said.
Henrietta made an effort. “I kept my eye on you, Aunt Caroline. I saw you flirting with Mr. Batty.”
“Impudence! Sophia, do you hear her? I only danced with him twice, though I admit he hovered round my chair. They always did. I can’t help it. We’re all like that. You should have seen your father at a ball! There was no one like him. Such an air! Ah, here we are. I suppose this disagreeable cabman must be tipped.”
“I’ll see to that,” Rose said. It was the first time she had spoken. “Be quick, Caroline. Don’t stand in the cold.”