It was more than overbalanced by the daughter's--he sought for a word and chanced on 'forwardness.' His irritation against her prompted him to hug it, to stamp it on his thoughts of her with a jeer of 'I have found you out.' On the other hand, all his knowledge of her cried out against the word.

He looked into the girl's face to resolve his doubts upon the point and found that she was watching him with some perplexity.
A question to Conway explained the reason why she was puzzled.
'How did you know that I asked Mr.Drake to Beaufort Gardens ?' she asked.
'I was present when Mallinson asked him to go.' 'Mr.Mallinson asked him!' she exclaimed, dropping her fan in her surprise.

'Why, I thought--' She saw the confusion in Mallinson's face and checked herself suddenly with a little laugh of pure enjoyment.

Her companion's jealousy was more heroical than she had given him credit for; it had induced him to lie.
To cover his discomfiture Mallinson dived for the fan.
'Oh, don't trouble,' she said, sympathy shaping the words into a positive entreaty.

'You are _so_ short-sighted, you know.