"He had nothin' to do with it;" said Peg, "I took him to that dance." She wasn't going to allow Jerry to be abused without lodging a protest. After all it was her fault. She made him take her. Very, well—she would take the blame. Mrs. Chichester looked steadily at Jerry for a few moments before she spoke. When she did speak her voice was cold and hard and accusatory.
"Surely, Sir Gerald Adair knows better than to take a girl of eighteen to a public ball without her relations' sanction?"
"I thought only of the pleasure it would give her," he answered. "Please accept my sincerest apologies."
Peg looked at him in wonder:
"Sir Gerald Adair! Are YOU Sir Gerald Adair?"
"Yes, Peg."
"So ye have a title, have yez?"
He did not answer.
Peg felt somehow that she had been cheated. Why had he not told her? Why did he let her play and romp and joke and banter with him as though they had been children and equals? It wasn't fair! He was just laughing, at her! Just laughing at her! All her spirit was in quick revolt.
"Do you realise what you have done?" broke in Mrs. Chichester.