Miss Betty drew her head down on to her shoulder soothingly.

“There, there! Don’t cry, my sweet! What has happened?”

“ ’Tis that odious Mr. Bettison!” sobbed Diana. “He⁠—he had the audacity to ask me to m-marry him!”

“You don’t say so, my love! I thought I heard him arrive. So you sent him about his business?”

“N-not before he had time to insult m-me!”

“Insult you? Di!”

“He⁠—he dared to insinuate⁠—oh no! he accused me outright⁠—of being infatuated by Mr. Carr! Infatuated!”

Over her head Miss Betty opened her eyes at her own reflection in the glass.