Part 47 (1/2)
”Oh, I'll fix it up with Sara,” said he confidently.
”Eh, Sara?”
”I'd suggest that you 'fix it up' with Miss Castleton,” said Sara pointedly.
Vivian shot a swift glance over her shoulder at her sister-in-law, and then broke into a good-humoured laugh. She joined Hetty and Mrs. Redmond Wrandall.
”Sometimes I feel that I really like Vivian,” observed Sara, as much to herself as to Leslie. ”She's above the board, at least.”
”Disagreeable as the devil at times, though,” said he, biting his lip.
After the Wrandalls had departed, Sara took Hetty off to her room.
The girl knew what was coming.
”Hetty,” said the older woman, facing her after she had closed the door of her boudoir, ”what is going on between you and Brandon Booth? I must have the truth. Are you doing anything foolish?”
”Foolish? Heaven help me, no! It--it is a tragedy,” cried Hetty, meeting her gaze with one of utter despair.
”What has happened? Tell me!”
”What am I to do, Sara darling? He--he has told me that he--he--”
”Loves you?”
”Yes.”
”And you have told him that his love is returned?”
”I couldn't help it. I was carried away. I did not mean to let him see that I--”
”You are such a novice in the business of love,” said Sara sneeringly.
”You are in the habit of being carried away, I fear.”
”Oh, Sara!”
”You must put a stop to all this at once. How can you think of marrying him, Hetty Glynn? Send him--”
”I do not intend to marry him,” said the girl, suddenly calm and dignified.
”I am to draw but one conclusion, I suppose,” said the other, regarding the girl intently.
”What do you mean?”
”Is it necessary to ask that question?”
The puzzled expression remained in the girl's eyes for a time, and then slowly gave way to one of absolute horror.
”How dare you suggest such a thing?” she cried, turning pale, then crimson. ”How dare you?”
Sara laughed shortly. ”Isn't the inference a natural one? You are forgetting yourself.”