CHAPTER 19Petra came in in her scarlet frock, and the two girls went down together.
“I’m glad you’re wearing the same dress again too. But it wouldn’t really matter what either of us wore, because Tanis would make it look like something off a bargain counter anyhow.”
Laura considered the gay little figure and laughed.
“It would be a marvellous bargain counter.”
“Soothing syrup! It’s all very well for you, with that lovely Chinese shawl. But you wait—Tanis will go all out tonight. The Madisons are coming.”
“Yes, she told me about them.”
Petra’s voice sharpened.
“Did she tell you she was smashing up their marriage, and that Sylvia is pretty well off her head with jealousy, poor kid?”
“No.”
The Madisons arrived early. They came into a room which contained neither Tanis nor Agnes Fane
