"You're too silly for anything," returns she most ungratefully, turning her back upon him.
"'Twas ever thus,'" says Mr. Gower, who seems to be in a poetical mood. "Yet what have I done?"
"Oh, nothing—nothing!" cries Tita petulantly. "It is only the day!
Surely it would depress anyone!"
Her eyes wandered down the room, and are now fixed upon the curtains that hide the window where Mrs. Bethune and her husband are conversing.
"Anyone but me!" says Mr. Gower, with an exalted air. "I was up early this morning to——"
"Up early! I like that! When were you up?" asks Mrs. Chichester, between whom and Randal there is always a living feud. "Why, you can't get up even on Sundays, I hear, to be in time for service!"
"What it is to be clever!" says Mr. Gower, looking at her with enthusiastic admiration. "One hears so much"—pause—"that isn't true!"
"That's a mere put off," says she. "When were you up this morning?
Come now—honour bright!"
"At shriek of day," says Gower with dignity. "Were you ever up at that time?"
"Never!" says Mrs. Chichester, laughing.