"True," says Rylton bitterly. "Most men's wives are their enemies nowadays."
"Oh, I shan't be yours!" says Tita. "And you mustn't be mine either, remember! Well, go on—we have put down Margaret," peeping at the paper in his hand, "and no one else. Now, someone to meet her. Colonel Neilson?"
"Yes, of course; and Captain Marryatt?"
"And Mrs. Chichester to meet him!"
"My dear Tita, Mrs. Chichester has a husband somewhere!"
"So she told me," says Tita. "But, then, he is so very far off, and in your Society distance counts."
Rylton regards her with some surprise. Is she satirical?—this silly child!
"You will have to correct your ideas about Society," says he coldly. "By all means ask Mrs. Chichester here, too; I, for one, prefer not to believe in scandals."
"One must believe in something," says Tita. "I suppose," pencil poised in hand, "you would like to ask Mr. Gower?"
"Certainly."