And without waiting for Nance to reply, she swept her down the corridor to the door of her bedroom.
The presence of Simonetta precluded the possibility of further confidences; and ten minutes later, as the sisters again emerged upon the corridor, the appearance of Lady Frances Hope from the door of her own room deprived Nance of the moment for which she had been waiting.
Seeing them, Lady Frances came forward smilingly.
"How charming!" she said. "A study in black and white! Where did those wonderful roses come from, Clodagh? They are nearly as dark as your dress."
Clodagh looked down at the damask roses in her hand.
"Yes. Aren't they nearly black?" she said easily. "I was saying to Lord Deerehurst the other day that there were no flowers one could wear in mourning. And to-day I found these in my room. He had wired for them to Ambleigh. It was very thoughtful of him."
Lady Frances gave an odd little smile.
"Very," she said. "I wonder if he meant them to be mourning. I believe there was a language of flowers when he was young."
She gave a short amused laugh and turned to Nance.
"And this is your first English dance, Miss Asshlin?"