“Why, she says she was all wrong about that fine-lady sister of hers, and that she herself is Miss Mule Selfish.”
“Very likely,” said Flossie. “I always did think Nesta a remarkably selfish girl, even when she was supposed to be my great friend. Mother, have you told her?”
“No,” said Mrs Griffiths, “I have been asking her about herself. She is going to the German school, and she seems quite pleased.”
“Yes, I am delighted,” said Nesta.
“Well then, you may as well tell her now,” said Flossie.
“It’s this,” said Mrs Griffiths, slightly mincing her words and speaking in a rather affected tone, “that Floss and I are going to London, for father—we always call him father, don’t we, Floss?—that is Mr Griffiths, you know, has got a splendid opening there, and he is taking a very fine house in Bayswater, and we are to live there, and Flossie will have masters for music and dancing, and she will come out presently, and perhaps make a great match, for I am given to understand that the men admire her very much, with her black eyes and her rosy cheeks.”
“Oh, don’t,” said Flossie, flushing, it is true, but at the same time flashing her eyes with a delighted glance from Nesta to Penelope. “We’ll be very rich in the future,” she said, in a modest tone, and then she dropped her eyes.
There was a dead pause for a minute or two.
“Father has been having some luck lately,” said Mrs Griffiths, “and so perhaps he’ll ride over the heads even of the grand Aldworths, and even of you Carters, although you do own a fine place like Court Prospect.”
“We are very glad,” said Nesta.