"Never so blind," Richard said, "never so matter-of-fact that I hurt your feelings? Nothing of--that sort?"
"Always the kindest friend I ever had!" the girl answered, unsteadily, and with suddenly wet eyes. "The--the most generous!"
He looked at her hand again, looked up at her as if he would speak. But instead she felt her fingers pressed, and felt her heart thump with a delicious terror.
"Do--do you like the blue and silver dress?" she asked with an excited laugh.
"I like it better than any dress I have ever seen!" Richard answered, seriously. Her hand free now, Harriet, standing on the lowest step, made him a little bow that displayed the frail silver fan, the silver slippers, the stockings with their silver lace.
"And wait until you see our frocks for the boat!" she warned him. "Nina has a yellow coat--and I have a black lace and a white embroidery! Really--REALLY I have never seen anything like the white one. SHEER, you know--"
Bottomley came noiselessly, discreetly, across the hall. Instantly the woman in blue and silver was all the mistress.
"Is Mr. Ward in, Bottomley?"
"He dined at 'ome, Mrs. Carter."
"Oh, thank you! You may lock up, then. Good-night, Mr. Carter! Good-night, Bottomley!"