How Maurice gains another Point; and how Tita consents to think about it; and how Margaret tells a Lie

CHAPTER XXVIII.

How Tita receives a Basket of Flowers and an Entreaty; and how she ceases to fight against her destiny

CHAPTER XXIX.

How a Journey is begun as the Day dies down; and how that Journey ends; and how a great Secret is discovered—­the Secret of Tita’s Heart

THE HOYDEN.

CHAPTER I.

HOW MINNIE HESCOTT GIVES TITA A HINT; AND LEARNS THAT HINTS MAY BE THROWN AWAY; AND HOW MARGARET’S SOUL IS GRIEVED.

Minnie Hescott, during the time it takes her to go down the terrace steps behind Tita, comes to a resolution. She will give Tita a hint! It will be a gift of no mean order, and whether it be well received or not, will always be a gift to be remembered, perhaps with gratitude.

And Minnie, who is strictly practical if nothing else, sees a fair hope of return in her present plan.  She likes Tita in her way—­likes her perhaps better than she likes most people, and Tita may be useful to her as Sir Maurice Rylton’s wife.  But Tita, dismantled of her honours, would be no help at all, and therefore to keep Tita enthroned is now a very special object with her astute cousin.

In and between all this is Minnie’s detestation of Mrs. Bethune, who has occasionally been rude to her in the small ways that make up the sum of life.

Minnie, who is not sensitive, takes the bull by the horns.

“Mrs. Bethune,” says she, as they go by a bed of hollyhocks now hastening to their death, “is a friend of yours?”

It is a question.

“Mrs. Bethune!” says Tita, stopping and looking at her as if wondering.

What does she mean?

“Yes,” says Minnie pleasantly.  “A friend.  An old friend!”

“Not an old friend,” says Tita quietly.  “She is a cousin of Maurice’s.”

“Yes.  But not a friend of yours?”

“No,” coldly.

“I’m glad of that,” says Minnie, with hilarity.  “I hate old friends, don’t you?  They always cost one such a lot.  They tell one such horrid news about one’s self.  They do such nasty things.  Give me a stranger for choice.  And as for Mrs. Bethune, now you have told me she is not a friend of yours, I suppose I may speak freely.  Do you know, Tita, I’d keep my eye on her if I were you.  You have given me a free hand, so I can tell you what is in my mind.  That woman—­she means——­”

“What?” asks Tita, turning upon her with some haughtiness.

_ “Business!"_ says Minnie Hescott, with an emphatic nod.  “Mischief all through.  She’s up to mischief of some sort.  I tell you what,” says Minnie, with her old young look, “you’ve got to keep your eye on her.”