“I don’t suppose he would for a minute. And I don’t know—this is quite between ourselves—that I shall see much more of any of you.” she answered.
“What do you mean by that? Don’t you like us?” asked Flora bluntly.
“Need you ask?” replied Augusta. “I cannot express to you what a blessing it is to me having people like you close to us; but the Richmonds have very funny ideas, and the fact is, as my aunt has not called on your mother—— Oh, you understand, don’t you?”
“But your aunt is away. How can she call on mother? She would, naturally, if she were at home.”
“Yes—yes; I know.”
“And being away,” continued Flora, “the necessary formalities cannot be gone through. Surely we can all have fun together. There is Constance.—Constance, I want to say a word to you.”
Constance danced up to her sister.
“Here is Miss Duncan,” continued Flora, “hinting to me that she won’t be able to see much of us in future. Don’t you think that would be a vast pity, Connie? And with David Archer coming, too!”
Constance laughed.
“You will like him immensely if you see him,” she said, staring full at Augusta.