She did not really care in the least about
her disappointment. "He will be sure to play again," she answered, "I
shall go for a walk in the Park. What time shall you be back, Pauline?"
Pauline hesitated. "Don't expect me till the evening, darling. Madame
Verney spoke about my going back with her to tea. Shall you be very
lonely? I never used to trouble about Clare. She went her way, and I went
mine. And"--
"You need not trouble about me," Rose flashed out, her colour rising. "I
should be sorry to spoil your afternoon, Pauline."
Pauline looked at her with grieved eyes. "It will make me most miserable
if I leave you angry with me. Don't you know that I would far, far rather
have gone with you? Rosie, you know that, don't you?"
But Rose had a stubborn love of truth, which prevented her from responding
to this appeal as Pauline wished.
"It would have been a pity for you to refuse Madame Verney," she said.
"And I shall have a nice afternoon. I will make some cakes, I think. I
want to astonish Aunt Lucy and Wilmot when I go home. I shall make Wilmot
let me make Tom's birthday cake."
Pauline patted her cheek. "What a child you are still, Rosie! When you
have been a month or two in London, you will find yourself growing up. But
I must start. How does this dress suit me? Do you think there is just a
little too much yellow about it?"
Rose could frankly say that the dress was perfect.
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