Page:The Reverberator (2nd edition, American issue, London and New York, Macmillan & Co., 1888).djvu/151

Rh mentioned the agreement they had come to in relation to the drive. Delia, at this, looked grave, asseverating that she didn't know that it was right ("as" it was right, Delia usually said,) that Francie should be so intimate with other gentlemen after she was engaged.

"Intimate? You wouldn't think it's very intimate if you were to see me!" cried Francie, laughing.

"I'm sure I don't want to see you," Delia declared; and her sister, becoming strenuous, authoritative, went on: "Delia Dosson, do you realise that if it hadn't been for Mr. Flack we would never have had that picture, and that if it hadn't been for that picture I should never have got engaged?"

"It would have been better if you hadn't, if that's the way you are going to behave. Nothing would induce me to go with you."

This was what suited Francie; but she was nevertheless struck by Delia's rigidity. "I'm only going to take him to see Mr. Waterlow," she explained.

"Has he become all of a sudden too shy to go alone?"

"Well, you know Mr. Waterlow doesn't like him—and he has made him feel it. You know Gaston told us so."

"He told us he couldn't bear him: that's what he told us," said Delia.