“They are my favourite flowers,” she said. “And I haven’t had any given to me for––oh, for ever so long.”
It gave her a little pang to remember that Ashton had always brought her violets in the first days of their acquaintance. It was one of the many little attentions which he had gradually dropped.
“You’re not to let Mr. Harley fall in love with you, mind,” June said severely as they went upstairs after dinner. “He’s much too nice to be made unhappy––even by you,” she added affectionately.
Esther stared.
“Why, whatever do you mean?” she cried. “I never see him or speak to him, except at meal times.”
“I mean what I say,” June insisted. “Didn’t you see how he looked at you when you took his violets?”
Esther flushed with vexation.
“Why, what perfect nonsense!” she protested.
But June only laughed.
“Onlookers see most of the game,” she declared. “Aren’t you coming up to my room? Our room, I mean.”