Page:Encounters (Bowen).djvu/21

 Mr. Rossiter, eyeing her contemplatively, supposed that Miss Bevel was a "merry" girl.

"It may mean an occasion for Mr. Rossiter," said Mrs. Russel from her Olympia behind the urn. "You shouldn't draw attention to it, girls."

The light glanced on Hilary's waved and burnished hair as she turned her head towards Aunt Willoughby.

"Nobody takes any notice of little me, when I go gadding, do they. Auntie! Why, it's all round the table in a minute if I come down with half an inch of new coloured cammie-ribbon sticking out above my jumper!"

"You wouldn't put it in at all if you didn't think it was going to notice," remarked her brother, without raising his eyes from the Daily Express.

"I wouldn't put on anything at all if I was quite invisible, if that's what you mean!"

Miss Emily glanced apprehensively at the unshaken barricade of newspaper.

"Oh, Hilary, you are awf"

Jervis had apparently not heard.

"Hilary!" said Mrs. Russel, "I'm afraid