"I hope you noticed, Nora, that I was never allowed to have
Mr. Carlyon for a partner. Talk of Queen Elizabeth indeed--we have
Queen Elizabeth the second at Staplegrove. If one spoke to the poor
man it was 'hands off--don't poach on my preserves,' just as though
she thought him her own property, which he is not, and never will
be."
"Really, Tina, you are too bad; you ought not to say such things of
our dear Miss Elizabeth. You had Mr. Herrick for your partner."
"Oh, he is a town prig," began Tina recklessly; but here Malcolm,
who had cleared his voice in vain, now began to whistle with such
unmistakable purpose that a dead silence ensued.
"What a spiteful little toad!" thought Malcolm, who cared nothing
for fluffy hair and curling eyelashes if a shrewish tongue
accompanied them.
He thought both the girls avoided him in rather a guilty fashion
when he passed them on the terrace; and he was inwardly disgusted
when, most of the guests having taken their leave, and supper being
announced, Elizabeth asked him to take Miss Tina Ross into the
dining-room; Nora followed with Mr.
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