Part 42 (1/2)
That quick, curious glance brings Rylton to himself. He cannot stay here any longer. He must go back into the house. It will be madness to absent himself. And, after all, is not the whole thing madness?
What is this girl to him? A mere name; nothing more.
He mounts the steps leading to the conservatory, and, meeting Minnie Hescott, asks her to dance.
”This is only a supper dance,” says she. ”I'm engaged for all the rest. But, if you like, I'll take one turn with you. After that you must get me something to eat; I never felt so hungry in all my life.”
CHAPTER XXV.
HOW t.i.tA TOLD A SECRET TO TOM HESCOTT IN THE MOONLIGHT; AND HOW HE SOUGHT TO DISCOVER MANY THINGS, AND HOW HE WAS MOST INNOCENTLY BAFFLED.
”Of course, I shall understand that it is a secret,” says Tom Hescott.
Both he and t.i.ta are quite unaware of the fact that Rylton and Mrs.
Bethune had just been standing behind them. t.i.ta, who had been dancing with Hescott, had led the way to this spot when they came out into the garden.
”Still,” says t.i.ta, hesitating, ”perhaps I ought not to speak. A secret _is_ a secret, you know.”
”Yes; everyone knows that,” says Hescott.
”Knows what?” sharply.
”About a secret.”
”If you're going to be nasty, you shan't know it at all,” says t.i.ta.
”I understand you very well. You think no woman can keep a secret.”
”Ah! but a man can. Tell me yours.”
”Nonsense! A woman is _twice_ as good at keeping a secret as a man is. And I can tell you this”--with a little emphatic shake of her charming head--”that I should not tell _you_ anything of this secret, only that you are always calling her names.”
”Her? Who?”
”Oh, you know very well.”
”Who do I know very well? Not a soul here except you; and, after all, I don't think I know _you_ very well.”
”Well, if you don't you ought.”
”Ought what? Know the mysterious 'her' or you?”
_”Me!”_
Hescott looks at her keenly in the dim light. _Is_ she a born coquette, or is she only a sweet child--the sweetest child that earth ever gave forth? Somehow it would have hurt him to find her a coquette.
”Ah! I _don't_ know you.”