Fanny looked at him sideways from under her lashes.
“And I had counted on your giving me a mount on her now and then!”
Rupert forgot his wrath, forgot even the twanging banjo.
“I’ve just got another cob,” he said quickly; “she jumps very well, and if you’d like to hunt her next Tuesday—”
“Oh, thanks awfully, but Captain Carteret has promised me a mount for next Tuesday!” said the perfidious Fanny.
Mrs. Carteret, on her knees by a refractory footlight, watched with anxiety Mr. Gunning’s abrupt departure from the room.
“Fanny!” she said severely, “what have you been doing to that man?”
“Oh, nothing!” said Fanny.
“If you’ve put him off singing I’ll never forgive you!” continued Mrs. Carteret, advancing on her knees to the next footlight.
“I tell you I’ve done nothing to him,” said Fanny Fitz guiltily.