“Thought you would be,” murmured Freddy, recovering his hand. “D’Evron very happy too. Means to take you to his mother immediately. Begs me to assure you—can place the utmost confidence in him! Going to be a queen, or some such thing: wasn’t attending very particularly, but got a notion that’s what he said.”
“But, Freddy, does she know the truth?” demanded Meg. “That he is not what we have believed him to be? That he is—”
“Oh, indeed, ma’am, I know everything!” Olivia assured her. “Oh, pray do not say I must not go to my Camille!”
“But—”
“Here, Meg, must have a word with you!” interrupted Freddy, gripping her arm, and propelling her towards the door. Outside the room, he released her, but said in a tone of strong censure: “If it ain’t just like you to be trying to throw a rub in the path, the very moment we are in a way to going on like winking! You hold your tongue, now, or you’ll plunge us all back into disorder!”
“Yes, but, Freddy, I have been thinking, and—”
“Well, I wish you won’t, because I never knew any good to come of it when you started thinking. Very likely to find ourselves in queer stirrups if we was to listen to you.”
“I declare you are the most odious creature alive!” said Meg indignantly. “Pray, have you considered what a situation I shall be in when that horrid woman discovers that I helped her daughter to elope?”
“Won’t discover it. Mean to warn her not to mention the matter. When Skelton tells her the girl ain’t been here—which reminds me: must remember to slip a couple of Yellow Boys into his hand!—well, when he tells her that, she’s bound to think of d’Evron. Won’t find him at his lodging. Paid his shot—at least, I hope he will—and gone! Plain as a pikestaff! Now, you be a good girl, Meg, and don’t, for the lord’s sake, try to think! Something more important to be done. Can’t let Miss Broughty go off without her nightgown! Must give her what she’ll need till she gets to Paris.”
“What, are you expecting me to give that wretched girl my own clothes?” demanded Meg.