“Keep forgetting!” murmured Freddy, with a consciencestricken glance at Miss Charing.
Thinking that she could not have heard aright, Meg was just about to ask him to repeat his remark when the door was opened, and Skelton ushered Mr. Westruther into the room.
Chapter IX
Lady Buckhaven greeted this late-coming visitor with unaffected pleasure. Mr. Westruther, raising her hand to his lips, said: “My dear Meg, I can’t express to you my delight at finding you at home—or my surprise! No sudden indisposition, I do trust!” He released her hand, and glanced, in his mocking way, at her companions.
It would have been too much to have said that he did not recognize Miss Charing in her elegant apparel, but she had the satisfaction of knowing that he was certainly surprised. His brows went up; he stood looking keenly at her for several moments before he spoke; and then he crossed the room towards her, and said laughingly: “Accept my sincerest felicitations, Kitty! Upon my word, I had almost made my most formal bow to my cousin’s unknown, fashionable guest! What a fortunate dog you are, Freddy! Really, I can’t feel that I congratulated you sufficiently!”
Freddy, who had regarded his entrance with marked disfavour, said: “Well, it don’t signify. Devilish queer times you choose to go paying visits!”
“Don’t I?” agreed Mr. Westruther, possessing himself of Kitty’s hands, and holding them so that he could look her up and down. “Charming, Kitty! You are as fine as fivepence! Were you guided by Freddy’s exquisite taste, or is this new touch all of your own devising?”
This bantering tone filled Miss Charing with a strong desire to slap him. Repressing so ungenteel an impulse, she replied affably: “Do you think I look well? I am so glad, but you should rather compliment Meg than Freddy.”
“Then I do compliment Meg,” he said, letting go her hands, and turning towards Lady Buckhaven. “Here you are, my little gamester! You came off all right.”
She took the slim packet he held out to her, and gave a delighted crow of triumph. “I knew it must win! I am very much obliged to you! Have I ruined you quite?”