In
plainer words, she had just given Frank a kiss.
In the presence of such an emergency as now confronted her, Miss Gart h
felt instinctively that all ordinary phrases of reproof would be phrases
thrown away.
"I presume," she remarked, addressing Magdalen with the merciless
self-possession of a middle-aged lady, unprovided for the occasion with
any kissing remembrances of her own--"I presume (whatever excuses your
effrontery may suggest) you will not deny that my duty compels me to
mention what I have just seen to your father?"
"I will save you the trouble," replied Magdalen, composedly. "I will
mention it to him myself."
With those words, she looked round at Frank, standing trebly helpless in
a corner of the summer-house. "You shall hear what happens," she said,
with her bright smile. "And so shall you," she added for Miss Garth's
especial benefit, as she sauntered past the governess on her way back
to the breakfast-table. The eyes of Miss Garth followed her indignantly;
and Frank slipped out on his side at that favorable opportunity.
Under these circumstances, there was but one course that any respectable
woman could take--she could only shudder.
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