Meanwhile, Mrs. Courtney, as soon as the others were gone, walked over to Dorian and Nita, and said stiffly:
"Permit me to offer you both my best wishes for your happiness, although the affair is very hasty, is it not? And do you think your guardian will approve, Miss Farnham?"
Instantly, Nita, who had been drooping wearily in her chair, lifted her head with a terrified cry.
"He must not know. Oh, Mrs. Courtney, you will not betray me!"
"Betray you, child? What strange words! Of course your guardian must know this."
"I shall write him at once, madam," began Dorian haughtily, but, to his surprise, Nita faltered, imploringly:
"No, no, Dorian; he need not know it for a little while. He will think, like Mrs. Courtney, that we were too hasty. He will not approve!"
"I am sure he will not," echoed the chaperon decidedly.
And the young man looked irresolutely from one speaker to the other. Nita knew, with a woman's keen instinct, that she could manage her lover, but she was not so sure of Mrs. Courtney. So it was to the lady she addressed herself first.