Mr.Mitchett, observing this, expressed himself suddenly as diverted.

"By Jove, they're kissing--she's in Lady Fanny's arms!" But his hilarity was still to deepen.

"And Lady Fanny, by Jove, is in Mrs.Brook's!" "Oh it's all beyond ME!" the Duchess cried; and the little wail of her baffled imagination had almost the austerity of a complaint.
"Not a bit--they're all right.

Mrs.Brook has acted!" Mitchy went on.
"Ah it isn't that she doesn't 'act'!" his interlocutress ejaculated.
Mrs.Donner's face presented, as she now crossed the room, something that resembled the ravage of a death-struggle between its artificial and its natural elegance.

"Well," Mitchy said with decision as he caught it--"I back Nanda." And while a whiff of derision reached him from the Duchess, "Nothing HAS happened!" he murmured.
As to reward him for an indulgence that she must much more have divined than overheard the visitor approached him with her sweet bravery of alarm.