"Why, Aunt Betty!"
"Why, Sidonia!—forgive, I should say: Most High Lady Countess!"
"What is the matter with you?" cried Sidonia.
She was never one to take hostility in meekness. The colour sprang to her cheek.
"Why do you look at me like that? What has vexed you?" she insisted.
"Vexed?—I?" quoth the lady. Here they were interrupted by Eliza, all flounce and bounce and smile, with pink bows to her apron and a jaunty new cap. Her mistress turned upon her fiercely. "Get out of this! When you are wanted you shall be called," she cried. Then: "Nay, my love," she proceeded, once more addressing her niece, now in a biting tone of sweetness (a diabolic inspiration had come to her: if Satan can never unmake, he can at least mar) "nay, wherefore should I be vexed? I may be ashamed for my sex; I am still, I must confess, under the shock of the recent scandal, which has rendered necessary this humiliating marriage, but——"
Sidonia went white to the lips. "I don't understand——" she cried boldly; but there was horror gathering in her eyes.
"Do you need to be told, then," asked the other, clapping her plump hands together in exasperation, "that if a young girl spends a night in a cave alone with a young man, her reputation is not worth a silver groat?"
The blood raced back to the bride's cheeks. "Do you taunt me for having saved your life, Aunt Betty? What say I?—saved your reputation.... But what does it matter; how does this concern me now? My husband loves me; he has my faith."
The Burgravine broke into shrill laughter. Then, with a sudden change of tactics, she folded her niece to her heart with hysterical tenderness.