Part 24 (1/2)

”You are too good!” says Lady Rylton, in a choking tone. She looks as if she could kill this girl, whom she has driven to so fierce an anger.

”I think it dismal,” goes on t.i.ta. ”I like light and gay places.”

There is a little clutch at her heart, though why, she hardly knows.

What she _does_ know is that she hates this pretty, fair, patrician woman before her--this woman with a well-bred face, and the vulgarest of all vulgar natures. This woman who has betrayed her son's secret. Even to so young a girl, and one who is not in love with her husband, the idea of the husband being in love with somebody else is distinctly distasteful.

”Besides, remember,” says t.i.ta, ”Mrs. Bethune lives here. After all you have told me of her, and--Maurice--you,” breaking into a gay little laugh, ”could hardly expect me to make this place my home.”

”You certainly seem to take it very lightly,” says Lady Rylton.

”Maurice must be congratulated on having secured so _compliant_ a wife.”

”Why should I care?” asks t.i.ta, turning a bright face to her. ”We made a bargain before our marriage--Maurice and I. He was to do as he liked.”

”And you?”

”I was to follow suit.”

_ ”Outrageous!”_ says Lady Rylton. ”I shall speak to Maurice about it. I shall warn you. I shall tell him how I disapprove of you, and he----”

”He will do nothing,” interrupts t.i.ta. She stands up, and looks at the older woman as if defying her. Her small face is all alight, her eyes are burning.

”I dare say not, after all,” says Lady Rylton, with a cruel smile.

”He knew what he was about when he made that arrangement. It leaves him delightfully free to renew his love-affair with Marian Bethune.”

”If he desires such freedom it is his.” t.i.ta gathers up her fan, and the long suede gloves lying on the chair near her, and walks towards the door.

”Stay, t.i.ta!” cries Lady Rylton hurriedly. ”You will say nothing of this to Maurice. It was in strict confidence I spoke, and for your good and his. You will say nothing to him?”

”I! what should I say?” She looks back at Lady Rylton, superb disdain in her glance.

”You might mention, for example, that it was I who told you.”

”Well, why shouldn't I?” asked t.i.ta. ”Are you ashamed of what you have said?”

”I have always told you that I spoke only through a sense of duty, to protect you and him in your married life. You will give me your word that you will not betray me.”

”I shall give you my word about nothing,” coldly. ”I shall tell Maurice, or I shall not tell him, just as it suits me.”

CHAPTER XIV.

HOW t.i.tA COMES TO OAKDEAN, AND IS GLAD. AND HOW MAURICE CALLS TO HER, AND SHE PERFORMS AN ACROBATIC FEAT. AND HOW A DISCUSSION ARISES.

What a day it is! Golden light everywhere; and the sounds of singing birds, and the perfume of the late mignonette and stocks. Who shall say summer is gone? t.i.ta, flitting gaily through the gardens and pleasure-grounds of her old dear home, her beloved Oakdean, tells herself that it is summer _here _at all events, whatever it may be in other stupid homes.

Oakdean to-day is at its best, and that is saying a great deal. The grand old lawn, studded here and there with giant beeches, seems sleeping solemnly in the warm light, and to their left the lake lies, sleeping too, rocking upon its breast the lily leaves, whose flowers are now all gone. Over there the hills are purple with flowering heather, and beyond them, yet not so far away but that the soft murmuring of it can be heard, dwells the sea, spreading itself out, grand, immense, until it seems to touch the pale blue heavens.

t.i.ta, stopping with her hands full of lowers, stands upright, and as a little breeze comes to her, draws in a long breath, as if catching the salt from the great ocean that it brings her. Oh, what a day--what a day!