The nurse had shut the door. Belinda, after a side-glance at it, jerked up her chin and followed Sophy, defiance in every vigorous line of her.
Sophy led the way into her writing-room and closed the door. She stood, and Belinda stood facing her. The girl was scarlet and Sophy very pale.
"Belinda...." she began.
Words leaped like flames from Belinda.
"Oh, I know you saw us!" she said. "He loves me.... What are you going to do about it?"
Sophy's eyes were so almost smilingly scornful that the girl's bravado failed her. She began changing colour. Her black brows scowled, but she held her tongue.
"I wished to speak to you about ... your mother," said Sophy quietly.
Belinda scowled on without a word.
"I think, that for ... every one concerned ... it will be better for your mother to know nothing of all this ... at present."
Belinda kept silence.