“Because I ain’t a French gabster!” said Freddy.
Chapter XVI
Upon their arrival in Berkeley Square, they were admitted into the house by the porter. Freddy was just about to take formal leave of his betrothed when his sister, attired in a flounced and frilled dressing-gown of rose-pink silk, appeared at the head of the staircase, and began to deliver herself of a dignified request to Miss Charing to come to her bedroom before she retired to her own. As the speech had been carefully composed and conned, it was a pity that the greater part of it remained unuttered. Her ladyship, perceiving Kitty’s escort, broke off in sudden dismay, and clutched the banister-rail. “F’Freddy?” she said faintly.
“Oh, Meg, is that you?” cried Kitty, nobly coming to her rescue. “I wish you had not sat up for me! Was it very tedious, your party?”
A speaking look of gratitude was cast down at her. Meg recovered her colour a little, and replied: “Oh, yes, a dead bore! Do, pray, come to my room! Goodnight, Freddy! Don’t keep Kitty standing down there, prosing on for ever!” She waved an airy hand, and disappeared again from view.
Freddy, who had been surveying her with an expression on his face of strong disapproval, said despairingly: “Pink! Dashed if I know why it is, but a female’s only got to have a yaller head, and nothing will do for her but to wear pink! Can’t be surprised poor Buckhaven’s gone to China, can you? Now, mind, Kit! not a word to her about your cousin!”
“No, I promise I will be utterly silent on that head!” Kitty assured him, giving him her hand, and clasping his warmly. “Goodnight! And indeed I thank you, Freddy!”
He kissed her fingers gracefully, “No, no! Pleasure!” he stammered.
He then departed, and Kitty sped up the stairs to her hostess’s room. Their quarrel was forgotten: Meg said without preamble: “Kitty, how in the world came Freddy to bring you home? Good God, I was ready to sink!”
“He went to fetch me from the Scortons’ house, learned where I had gone, and came there in search of me. What a goose you are, Meg! I was in agonies lest you should betray yourself!”