She checked herself suddenly, for Fleda, with the slow, noiseless step that weakness imposed, had come in again, and stood by the centre-table.
"We are discussing a knotty question, Miss Ringgan," said Mr. Carleton, with a smile, as he brought a bergère for her; "I should like to have your voice on it."
There was no seconding of his motion. He waited till she had seated herself, and then went on.
"What, in your opinion, is the best preparation for wearing prosperity well?"
A glance at Mrs. Evelyn's face, which was opposite her, and at one or two others, which had, undeniably, the air of being arrested, was enough for Fleda's quick apprehension. She knew they had been talking of her. Her eye stopped short of Mr. Carleton's, and she coloured, and hesitated. No one spoke.
"By prosperity, you mean "
"Rank and fortune," said Florence, without looking up.
"Marrying a rich man, for instance," said Edith, "and having one's hands full."
This peculiar statement of the case occasioned a laugh all round, but the silence which followed seemed still to wait upon Fleda's reply.
"Am I expected to give a serious answer to that question?" she said, a little doubtfully.