“Certainly she had a reason. It might be pure mischief, for she is mischievous as a cat. It might be superstition; she is as superstitious as an Hindoo fakir. She has charms and signs for everything. She orders her very life by the stars of heaven. I have watched her, and listened to her, and never trusted her about Kitty–not a moment. Now this is a secret between thee and me. I asked her to-day about the ring, and she would say neither this nor that; yet somehow she gave me to understand it was a love token.”
“She is a liar, if she means that Piers gave it to her as a love token. I saw the young man half an hour ago. If ever a man loved a maid, he loves our Kitty.”
“Yet he is going to marry Miss Vyner.”
“He is not. I am sure he is not. He will marry Kate Atheling.”
“The Duke told me this afternoon that Lord Exham would marry Miss Vyner as soon as this Reform question is settled. He said the marriage would take place at the Castle.”
“The Duke has been talking false to you for some purpose of his own.”
“Not he. Richmoor has faults–more than enough of them; but he treads his shoes straight. A truthful man, no one can say different.”
“I wouldn’t notice a thing he said for all that. Pass it by. Leave Kitty to manage her own affairs.”
“No, I will not! Thou must tell Kitty to give the man up. He is going to marry another woman.”
“I don’t believe a word of it.”