She said the last words gently, with a pleasant smile, and then proceeded to put on her furs with an air of quiet dignity that would not have discredited Lady Munro herself, and that seemed to throw the Browns to an infinite distance.
It was some moments before any of them found voice.
"Must you go?" said the eldest at last, somewhat feebly. "Won't you take another cup of tea?"
"Thank you very much, but I am on my way to drink tea with Mrs Easson."
"Queer homely body, isn't she?" said the second sister, recovering herself. "She is your cousin, is she not?"
"I am proud to say she is."
"Oh, we've never arranged about the walk," said the youngest. "Any day next week that will suit you, will suit me."
"Oh, thank you; I am afraid this wonderful bazaar is going to absorb all our energies for some time to come. I fear the walk will have to be postponed indefinitely."
She shook hands graciously with her hostesses, and went slowly down by the stair that opened on the street.
"If I were five years younger," she said to her herself, "I should be tempted to encourage Mr Brown, just the least little bit in the world, and then——"