“Dear me! Even Freddy’s?”
She knew not how to reply to this; and, after a moment, said rather lamely: “He did not offer for that reason.”
“Or at all?” suggested Mr. Westruther.
She put up her chin. “Of course! You may ask George and Hugh if you don’t believe me! They were both present! Besides—what an absurd thing to say! Pray, how could I be engaged to him if he had not offered for me?”
“Well, you might have offered for him,” said Mr. Westruther thoughtfully.
She was now very much flushed, and answered with some difficulty: “I wish you will not talk such nonsense!”
“And I wish that you would stop behaving so nonsensically, foolish child! Freddy, indeed! As well ask me to believe that you mean to marry Dolphinton!”
Her eyes flashed. “How dare you say such a thing, Jack? To compare Freddy with poor Dolph—! It is the most infamous thing, and I won’t endure it!”
His brows rose. “But what heat! It does you the greatest credit, my dear, but it is quite uncalled for. I intended no comparison: merely the one is as unlikely a suitor as the other. Am I forgiven?”
“I am sure it is of no consequence,” she said stiffly. “Oh, there is Miss Broughty, walking with her cousins! Pray, will you pull up for a moment?”