"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 Tita 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.

“I think she will marry Colonel Neilson.”

“Don’t make yourself more absurd than you need be!” says her aunt contemptuously.  “An old maid like that!  What could Colonel Neilson see in her?  I don’t believe a word of that ridiculous story.  Why, she is nearly as bad—­worse, indeed,” with a short laugh, “than a widow——­like you!”

“I think she will marry him, for all that,” says Mrs. Bethune calmly, with supreme self-control.  She takes no notice of her insult.

“You can think as you like,” says her aunt.  “There, go away; I must arrange about seeing that girl.”

CHAPTER X.

HOW “THAT GIRL” WAS “SEEN” BY THE DOWAGER LADY RYLTON; AND HOW TITA HELD HER SMALL HEAD VERY HIGH, AND FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT WITH THE ENEMY.

There is scarcely time for Lady Rylton to make arrangements for a private interview with her daughter-in-law, as Mrs. Bethune has scarcely left her room before that small person knocks at the door.  And there is, perhaps, a slight touch of confusion on the older woman’s face as Tita enters.  She had not had time to prepare the little bitter barbs she had meant to fling against the girl’s heart, and is now slightly taken aback.

However, Nature, the All-Mother, has been generous to Tessie in the way of venom, and after a moment or two she tells herself that she will be able to get through this interview with honour.

“My dear Tita.  You!  So glad!  Pray come and sit down.”

“I just came,” says Tita smiling, but hesitating on the threshold, as if desirous of an excuse to run away again as quickly as possible, “to see if you were quite comfortable—­quite happy.”

“Ah, happy!" says Lady Rylton in a peculiar tone.  “Do come in, Tita.  It is a fad of mine—­a silly one, no doubt—­but I cannot bear to look at an open door.  Besides, I wish to speak to you.”

Tita closes the door and comes well into the room.  She does not seat herself, however; she remains standing near the chimney-piece.