Lady Darrell went nearer to her.
"Pauline," she said, gently, "you have always repelled every effort of mine; you would not be friends with me. But now, dear—now that I am so much happier, that I have no cloud in my sky save the shadow of your averted face—be a little kinder to me. Say that you forgive me, if I have wronged you."
"You have wronged me, Lady Darrell, and you know it. For me to talk of forgiveness is only a farce; it is too late for that. I have had my revenge!"
Lady Darrell looked up at her with a startled face.
"What is that you say, Pauline?"
"I repeat it," said the girl, huskily—"I have had my revenge!"
"What can you mean? Nothing of moment has happened to me. You are jesting, Pauline."
"It would be well for you if I were," said the girl; "but I tell you in all truth I have had my revenge!"
And those words sounded in Lady Darrell's ears long after Pauline had left Darrell Court.