She sinks into the chair behind her, and looks deliberately at Margaret with an air that, if not altogether smiling, is certainly altogether calm.

It must have cost her a good deal to do it.
"It is beyond argument," says she; "he will not ask her." "He _shall,"_ says Lady Rylton in a low tone.
Margaret rises, and moves slowly towards one of the open windows; she pauses there a moment, then steps out on to the balcony, and so escapes.

These incessant discussions are abhorrent to her, and just now her heart is sad for the poor child who has been brought down here ostensibly for amusement, in reality for business.

Of course, Maurice will not marry her--she knows Maurice, he is far above all that sort of thing; but the very attempt at the marriage seems to cover the poor child with insult.

And she is such a pretty child.
At this moment the pretty child, with Randal Gower, comes round the corner; she has her skirt caught up at one side, and Miss Knollys can see it is full of broken biscuits.