When she was shown into Mrs. Norton’s private sitting-room she found Wargrave already there with her hostess, who received her very amiably.  During tea the conversation flowed in safe channels at first.  But suddenly Violet startled her guests by saying: 

“Now, Miss Benson, that we three are alone I think it a good opportunity to speak very plainly about Frank’s relations with you.  I’ve just been giving him a serious talking to about the way he has behaved to you.”

The girl drew herself up haughtily.

“What do you mean, Mrs. Norton,” she said.  “The way Mr. Wargrave has behaved——?  I don’t understand you.”

“Oh yes, you do.  It’s best to speak plainly.  I’m afraid Frank has been leading you to believe that he’s in love with you——.”

“Violet!” broke in Wargrave angrily.  “Please don’t go on.  You’ve no right to say such things.”

She smiled sweetly on him.

“Yes, I have, Frank.  You know, my dear boy, that you’ve got pretty ways with women—­I fear he’s rather a flirt, Miss Benson—­that you are apt to make some of them think you mean more than you do.”

“What absurd nonsense!” he cried, more angrily still.  “Please stop, I beg of you.”

“No, Frank, it is only right that I should warn Miss Benson.”  She turned to the girl.  “He hasn’t told you, I’m sure, that he’s not free to marry you or any other girl.”

Wargrave sprang up.

“I’ve told her everything about us, Violet,” he protested.  “I ask you as a favour to drop the subject.”

The girl sat as if turned to stone while Mrs. Norton went on: 

“You are young, my dear, and can’t know much about men.  I suppose you’ve lived in the jungle all your life.  Now, a little bird has told me you’ve let yourself get too fond of Frank—­oh, he’s very charming, I know, and this playing at nursing a poor wounded hero is a dangerous game.  But I’m going to tell you plainly that Frank is pledged to me.  He has asked me to leave my husband for him, and I’ve consented; so there’s no use your trying to catch him, my dear.  You’re too late.”

The girl sprang indignantly to her feet.

“I’ve done nothing of the sort, Mrs. Norton.  How dare you say so?  You’ve no right to speak to me as you’re doing.”

The older woman sat back coolly in her chair and laughed; but her eyes grew hard.

“Oh yes, I have, my dear girl.  You two were the talk of Darjeeling before I came.  Of course you’re angry, naturally, at failing to catch him, but I’m going to put a stop to your trying, here and now.  He has got to break with you.”

“You are a wicked woman,” began the girl; and then indignation choked her.

Mrs. Norton leant forward in her chair.

“Can you deny that you’re in love with him?” she asked.

Wargrave tried to interpose; but the girl waved him aside and faced her rival.