"I—I can't help it. Oh, mother, don't send me to Aunt Maggie's. Oh, don't make her ask el-el-eligible m-men."
"Don't be a blithering idiot!" shouted Sir Gambier. "If you can't control yourself, go upstairs and begin packing at once."
Tony went out, crying into a handkerchief stained with blackberry juice. Her demoralisation was complete.
Awdrey, who had been lurking uneasily in the dining-room, came out as the boudoir door opened and slammed, and for a moment stood horrified at the sight of her sister.
"Hullo, Tony! Whenever did I last see you cry? What's the matter, old girl?"
"M-Mother thinks I'm old enough to-to b-be married."
"To whom?" shrieked Awdrey, all agog at once.
"Nobody—only some el-eligible men at—at Aunt Maggie's."
"What rot you're talking. Hasn't any one asked you?"
"Of course not."