Part 66 (1/2)
”t.i.ta!”
t.i.ta's mother-in-law grows immediately interested.
”Yes, t.i.ta. What I was going to say when you interrupted me was, that she refuses to take _me_ into consideration--or anyone else for the matter of that--because----”
She stops--she feels choking; she honestly believes that t.i.ta likes Tom Hescott far more than she likes her husband. But that the girl is guilty, even in _thought_ guilty, she does _not_ believe; and now she speaks--and to this woman of all others---- And yet if she _does_ speak, ruin will probably come out of it--to t.i.ta. She hesitates; she is lost!
”Oh, go on!” says Lady Rylton, who can be a little vulgar at times--where the soul is coa.r.s.e, the manner will be coa.r.s.e too.
”There is a cousin!” says Marian slowly.
”A cousin? You grow interesting!” says Lady Rylton. There is a silence for a moment, and then: ”Do you mean to tell me that this girl,” with a scornful intonation, ”has a--Really” with a shrug, ”considering her birth, one may be excused for calling it--a _follower?”_
”Yes.”
”And so _l'ingenue_ has awakened at last!”
”If you mean t.i.ta,” icily, ”I think she is in love with her cousin; and, beyond all doubt, her cousin is in love with her.”
”Birds of a feather!” says Lady Rylton. It has been plain to Marian for the past five minutes that her aunt has been keeping back her temper with some difficulty. Now it flames forth. ”The _insolence!”_ cries she, between her teeth. ”That little half-bred creature!
Fancy--just _fancy--_her daring to be unfaithful to _my_ son! To marry a Rylton, and then bring a low intrigue into his family!” She turns furiously on Marian. ”Where is she?”
”t.i.ta?”
”Yes. I must see her this moment--this _moment;_ do you hear?” The tyrannical nature of her breaks out now in a furious outburst. She would have liked to get t.i.ta in her grasp and crush her. She rises.
”I wish to speak to her.”
”I should advise you to do no such foolish thing,” says Mrs.
Bethune, rising too.
_”You_ advise!--you! Who are you?” says Lady Rylton insolently.
”When did I ask for your advice, or take it? Send that girl here--directly.”
”Surely you forget that 'that girl' is at this moment your hostess!”
says Marian Bethune, who has some sense of decency left. ”This is her house; I could not deliver such a message to her.”
”Then take another! Say----”
”Nor any other. She dislikes me, as I dislike her. If you wish to see her, send a message through her maid, or,” a happy thought coming to her, ”through Margaret; she cares for t.i.ta as a cat might care for her kitten!”
”Poor Margaret,” says Lady Rylton, with a sneer. ”I fear she will always have to care for other cats' kittens!”
”Do you? I don't,” says Marian, who, though she detests most people, has always a strange tenderness for Margaret.
”What do you mean?” asks Lady Rylton sharply.