“Mamma didn’t mention Captain Starr, but she said she had never noticed before that Rose was so fond of admiration, and a little inclined to flirt.”
Rose reddened and bit her lips.
“I am much obliged to Mrs Grove, for her good opinion. Were there any other appropriate remarks?”
“Oh! yes; plenty more,” said Fanny, laughing. “I told mamma it was all nonsense. She used to say the same of me, and I reminded her of it. I told her we all looked upon Rose as a child, and that she had no idea of flirting—and such things.”
“I hope you did not do violence to your conscience when you said it,” said Arthur, gravely.
“Of course not. But still when I began to think about it, I could not be quite sure.”
“Set a thief to catch a thief,” said her husband.
Fanny shook her finger at him.
“But it wasn’t Captain Starr nor Charlie Millar mamma meant. It was Mr Green.”
The cloud vanished from Rosie’s face. She laughed and clapped her hands. Her brothers laughed, too.