"Me!" cried the Admiral. "No!—I've told you: I 'll have nothing to do with it!"
Try how she might, Mrs. Poskett had only been able to pick up fragments of the conversation, but those had been enough to arouse her curiosity. Also she felt she had been standing neglected much too long. "Now, you two," she said, coming between them, "I'm sure you 've gossiped long enough."
Otford turned to her. "Madam," said he, in his most winning manner, "will you do me a great favour?"—
"I'm sure your lordship wouldn't ask me anything unbecoming," she replied, with pretty modesty.
"Will you persuade Madame Lachesnais to come out and taste the evening air, not telling her I am here?"
Mrs. Poskett looked at him enquiringly, and with a woman's intuition read an affirmation in his eyes.
"Don't do anything of the sort, Pamela!" cried the Admiral, warningly.
She turned sharply on him. How thick-headed men were, to be sure! "Peter, I'm ashamed of you!" Then she addressed Lord Otford, "With great pleasure, my Lord. Me and Peter 's that happy, we want to see everybody ditto."
The Admiral stared from one to the other in amazement. What did she mean? What could she mean, but one thing? "Gobblessmysoul, Jack!" he cried at last, in utter amazement, "Is that it?"
"That's it!" said Mrs. Poskett, with a laugh.