And shortly after that lady's arrival, Peter took his leave.




XXI


Well, Trixie, and is one to congratulate you?" asked Mrs.
O'Donovan Florence.

"Congratulate me--? On what?" asked Beatrice.

"On what, indeed!" cried the vivacious Irishwoman. "Don't try
to pull the wool over the eyes of an old campaigner like me."

Beatrice looked blank.

"I can't in the least think what you mean," she said.

"Get along with you," cried Mrs. O'Donovan Florence; and she
brandished her sunshade threateningly. "On your engagement to
Mr.--what's this his name is?--to be sure."

She glanced indicatively down the lawn, in the direction of
Peter's retreating tweeds.

Beatrice had looked blank. But now she looked--first, perhaps,
for a tiny fraction of a second, startled--then gently,
compassionately ironical.