“But it is Lord Fleetwood who earns my gratitude, for he was the more chivalrous!” said Arabella,
“Miss Tallant, I thank you!”
“You have certainly been amply rewarded, and have now nothing to do but to take yourself off,” said Mr. Beaumaris.
“Not for the world!” declared his lordship.
Mr. Beaumaris sighed. “How often I have had to deplore your lack of tact!” he said.
Arabella, sparkling under the influence of all this exciting banter, raised her posy to her nose, and said, with a grateful look cast up at Fleetwood: “I stand doubly in Lord Fleetwood’s debt!”
“No, no, it is I who stand in yours, ma’am, since you deigned to accept my poor tribute!”
Mr. Beaumaris glanced at the posy, and smiled slightly, but said nothing. Arabella, catching sight of Mr. Epworth, who was hovering hopefully in the vicinity, suddenly said: “Mr. Beaumaris, who is that oddly dressed man?”
He looked round, but said: “There are so many oddly dressed men present, Miss Tallant, that I fear I am at a loss. You do not mean poor Fleetwood here?”
“Of course I do not!” exclaimed Arabella indignantly.