"I've thrown out a misfortune," she said. "A terrible misfortune," and looked round for applause.
"I am eternally obliged to you," said Barnaby. "Thanks!" But she would not give up his glass.
"There are strange things here," she said, clasping her hands, and gazing into it with half-shut eyes. Barnaby reached over and captured the glass.
"We don't want her to reveal all our secrets, do we, Susan?" he said, and saved the situation by drinking the secrets down.
His presence of mind turned the laugh against Mélisande, whose expression was a study. Ignoring public ridicule, she affected to meditate on his disturbing action.
"I wish I could remember what that portends," she said solemnly. "I rather think it was fatal."
But Barnaby refused to be overawed. He was in a mood of tearing gaiety that Susan did not quite understand. She herself, although she knew that it was absurd, had had a superstitious fear of that glass of water....
"Let's go on to the ball," said the Duchess.
In the general confusion the girl found herself on the stairs with Mélisande, still ruffled. Somehow their glances met.
"Barnaby would turn anything into a joke. He was always like that," said she. "He hasn't any sense of decorum."