Both he and Tita are quite unaware of the fact that Rylton and Mrs. Bethune had just been standing behind them. Tita, who had been dancing with Hescott, had led the way to this spot when they came out into the garden.
"Still," says Tita, hesitating, "perhaps I ought not to speak. A secret is a secret, you know."
"Yes; everyone knows that," says Hescott.
"Knows what?" sharply.
"About a secret."
"If you're going to be nasty, you shan't know it at all," says Tita.
"I understand you very well. You think no woman can keep a secret."
"Ah! but a man can. Tell me yours."
"Nonsense! A woman is twice as good at keeping a secret as a man is. And I can tell you this"—with a little emphatic shake of her charming head—"that I should not tell you anything of this secret, only that you are always calling her names."
"Her? Who?"
"Oh, you know very well."