"And his aunt?"
"Certainly not."
"Oh, but I should," says Tita; "she amuses me. Do let us ask old
Miss Gower!"
"I begin to think you are a wicked child," says Rylton, laughing, whereon Miss Gower's name is scrawled down on the list. "There are the men from the barracks in Merriton; they can always be asked over," goes on Maurice. "And now, who else?"
"The Marchmonts!"
"Of course." He pauses. "And then—there is Mrs. Bethune!"
"Your cousin! Yes!"
"Shall we ask her?"
"Why should we not ask her?" She lifts one small, delicate, brown hand, and, laying it on his cheek, turns his face to hers. "Don't look out of the window; look at me. Why should we not ask her?"
"My dear girl, there is no answer to such a question as that."