The girl flushed. 'I hope you don't think I did it for that reason.'
The little passage was unnoticed by the rest of the company, who were listening to Lord Borrodaile's contented pronouncement: 'I'm afraid the new-fangled seed falls on barren ground in our old-fashioned gardens—pace my charming sister-in-law.'
Greatorex turned sharply. 'Mrs. Tunbridge! God bless my soul, you don't mean——'
'There is one thing I will say for her'—Mrs. Freddy's brother-in-law lazily defended the honour of the house—'she doesn't, as a rule, obtrude her opinions. There are people who have known her for years, and haven't a notion she's a light among the misguided.'
But Greatorex was not to be reassured. 'Mrs. Tunbridge! Lord, the perils that beset the feet of man!' He got up with a half-comic ill humour.
'You're not going!' The hostess flitted over to remonstrate. 'I haven't had a word with you.'
'Yes, yes; I'm going.'
Mrs. Freddy looked bewildered at the general laugh.
'He's heard aspersions cast upon your character,' said Lord Borrodaile. 'His moral sense is shocked.'
'Honestly, Mrs. Tunbridge'—Farnborough was for giving her a chance to clear herself—'what do you think of your friends' recent exploits?'