"I think it is rather past the time," replied Margaret.
"The girl grows more careless every day," said Harriet. "I hope George does not make love to her."
"Oh! Harriet—impossible! a gentleman—"
"Why my dear," said Harriet drily, "such things have been done once or twice—it is a very wicked world; she has some nonsense in her head, I am sure, for she marked a whole set of handkerchiefs wrong for me the other day."
At this moment Charlotte came in with the tea-things, Harriet leaned over the tray, and surveyed the cups.
"Charlotte!" she exclaimed, "where is the cream jug?"
"Oh, dear, Miss Conway! I forgot it. I will bring it up in a minute."
"Charlotte!" exclaimed Harriet, with a tragic frown, "you are in love."
Charlotte gave a prodigious start, but she denied the charge.