But for all her efforts her mouth worked, and the dimples appeared and vanished in her cheeks, and a little ripple of laughter now and again escaped from her lips.
'Really,' said Clarice, 'I am disappointed in you, Connie.' 'I know it was out of place, dear,' said Mrs.Willoughby with humility, but nevertheless her voice shook as she spoke.

Fearing another access she began, as a resource, to lecture Clarice upon the impropriety of making appointments with young gentlemen at other people's houses.

The lecture, however, was received with disdain.
'That seems to me still more out of place,' said Clarice.
'Well, we had better go into the drawing-room to Mr.Conway,' said Mrs.
Willoughby.
Clarice was indeed excessively indignant with Mrs.Willoughby, for she was in the habit herself of treating her feelings with a tender solicitude, and consequently disliked the want of respect shown to them by her friend.

She betrayed the extent of her indignation by a proportionately excessive friendliness towards Conway that afternoon.

He was allowed to conduct her to four picture galleries, and a Panopticon museum of tortures; his offer to refresh her with tea in Bond Street was shyly accepted, and at parting he was thanked with effusion, 'for the pleasantest afternoon she had spent for some time.' On reaching home, however, Miss Le Mesurier immediately wrote out the note which she had begun in Mrs.Willoughby's boudoir.