“I’m not out yet, of course,” she said shyly. “I suppose I shall go to places when I’m as old as Meg.”
But they seemed to think that was a very old-fashioned notion. When they were fifteen, and even younger, they said, they had gone to parties and no end of things.
“I don’t suppose you could just run up to us one day next week by yourself, and have a game with us?” insinuated Miss Browne, who would fain show the glories of Trafalgar House to this young girl, who was trying, unsuccessfully, to hide her well-worn gloves from their gaze.
Nellie was “afraid not,” but the “not” was very dubious; she was wondering if she could not manage it in some way, and when Meg, released from Mrs. Courtney, came down the Church for her, the first seeds of the intimacy had been sown.
[172]
]CHAPTER XV.
THE GOVERNMENT OF MEG.
“Alas! how easily things go wrong.”
A week later, cards, very thick, gilt-edged, and perfumed, arrived at Misrule, requesting the pleasure of the company of Mr. Philip and the Misses Woolcot’s company at an “At Home” at Trafalgar House.
Pip said it was “fair cheek.” Meg raised her eyebrows, but Nellie longed ardently to accept, and almost wept when a formal answer pleading regret and a prior engagement was sent in return.
A fortnight passed, and more cards arrived.
Mr. and Mrs. Fitzroy-Browne.