And Ethel had also reasons for avoiding dissension at this time.

A break in their friendship now would bring Dora forward to explain, and Dora had a wonderful cleverness in presenting her own side of any question.

Ethel shrunk from her innuendoes concerning Fred, and she knew that Basil would be made to consider her a meddling, jealous girl who willingly saw evil in Dora's guileless enjoyment of a clever man's company.
To be misunderstood, to be blamed and pitied, to be made a pedestal for Dora's superiority, was a situation not to be contemplated.

It was better to look over Dora's rudeness in the flush of Dora's pretended sorrow for it.

So they forgave each other, or said they did, and then Dora explained herself.