Ermengarde was standing near a window. Now she pushed a muslin curtain aside, and hid herself behind its folds.
"There! She did hear you this time, Flora," said Kate.
"I meant her to," replied the other. "You were humiliating her so horribly, Kate."
The two girls whispered a little longer, then they parted company. Ermengarde stood behind the shelter of the window curtain. Her heart was beating fast, her cheeks were flushed, her eyes had a triumphant light in them.
Yes, she had heard what those horrid girls were saying. She had heard every word. They had abused her dress, but they had praised her face. This praise made up for all. What mattered the dress which could be so easily removed, compared with the face which would remain.
Ermengarde's heart thrilled within her at the delicious words of flattery. These grown-up girls envied her! Oh, she could bear anything after that.
She was standing thus, thinking her own thoughts, when the light swish of silken drapery near caused her to look round, and to her astonishment the girl who was called Flora stood in the shelter of the window by her side.
"I hope I am not crowding you," she said in a gracious voice to Ermengarde. "It is so hot in the drawing-room; I have just come here to get cool before the gentlemen come in."
"You don't disturb me at all," said Ermengarde.
"Thank you. Are you Miss Wilton? I think you must be. My mother knows your father very well."