She had not reckoned with the proneness of a new interest to oust an old one from youthful minds.
Ambrose and Ruthie both looked at her with the lacklustre gaze and hanging under-jaw of utter unresponsiveness.
"I can't keep the window open any longer, it's too cold. Run back to Auntie Iris, now."
"But we haven't told you the news."
"Quick, then."
"You must guess first," said Ruthie loudly and inexorably.
Ambrose thrust his large pale face forward and unexpectedly snatched the dallying announcement from the lips of his sister, perhaps from a well-grounded fear that it must otherwise be uttered from without an abruptly-closed window.
"Auntie Iris is going to marry Mr. Garrett!"
Lady Rossiter was left no time in which to utter possible congratulations, as the momentary advantage reft from his senior by Ambrose was dearly paid for by him in the gale of buffetings to which she instantly subjected him.
"Ruthie! Let go of your little brother this moment! How dare you?"