“Tut, nonsense, child! Duckady mud would go well with your hair,” said the old lady. “But Pearl spoils you—that’s what it is.”
“She does indeed!” said Polly heartily, and she twined her lovely arms around Pearl and kissed her.
A voice came from the stairs announcing that Mme. Léopold’s carriage was at the door. The two girls kissed Mrs. Monteagle and hurried away, looking very like a couple of swans as they floated off with their waves of white tulle round them.
“Come up early to-morrow morning and tell me all about it,” said Mrs. Monteagle in a sotto voce to Pearl; “of course it will be settled to-night.”
Pearl blushed up, and there was a sudden look of distress on her face as with an exclamation of protest she hastened after Polly.
CHAPTER III.
CAPTAIN LEOPOLD INTRODUCES HIS FRIEND.
Blanche Léopold was in great delight at having Pearl and Polly with her.
“We are just like three sisters, are not we, petite maman?” she said, as they lightly tossed their skirts over each other so as not to crush them.
“Exactly, chères enfants!” said Mme. Léopold, with a smile at both her protégées; but it was Pearl’s hand she pressed, it was Pearl’s forehead that she stooped to kiss, in answer to Blanche’s appeal.
“Is M. Léon to be at the ball?” inquired Polly.