Batty to slumber with that quotation.
In the cab, as the Malletts jolted home in the care of the same surly
driver, Caroline complaisantly spoke of her congratulations. She would
not have said so much to anybody else, but she knew Mrs. Batty would
be pleased.
'So she was, dear,' Sophia said, but her more delicate social sense
was troubled. 'Though I do think one ought to treat everybody as one
would treat the greatest lady in the land. I think we ought to have
taken for granted that everything would be correct.'
'Rubbish! You must treat people as they want to be treated. She was
panting for praise, and she got it, and anyhow it's too late to
argue.'
They had stayed to the end so that Henrietta's pleasure should not be
curtailed, and now she was leaning back, very white and still.
'I believe the child's asleep,' Sophia whispered.
'No, I'm not. I'm wide awake.'
'Did you enjoy it, dear?'
'Very much,' said Henrietta.
'I kept my eye on you, child,' Caroline said.
Henrietta made an effort. 'I kept my eye on you, Aunt Caroline. I saw
you flirting with Mr. Batty.'
'Impudence! Sophia, do you hear her? I only danced with him twice,
though I admit he hovered round my chair. They always did. I can't
help it. We're all like that. You should have seen your father at a
ball! There was no one like him. Such an air! Ah, here we are. I
suppose this disagreeable cabman must be tipped.'
'I'll see to that,' Rose said.
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