"But why? She seems to be getting on all right, in spite of your evil prognostications before her marriage. She and Rylton seem on very good terms."
"Not to-day, at all events," shaking her head.
"No? I confess I did think there was a little rift somewhere."
"Oh yes! There is something," says Margaret somewhat impatiently. "Did you see the poor child's eyes, and her whole air? Her pretty little attempts at unconcern?"
"I thought Rylton looked rather put out, too."
"I didn't look at him. I have no patience with him. It is a mad marriage for any man to make." She pauses. "I am afraid there was some disagreeableness last night." She hesitates again. Though quite determined never to marry Colonel Neilson or any other man, she permits herself the luxury of retaining Neilson as a confidential friend. "I wish her cousin, Mr. Hescott, was not quite so attentive to her. She is very young, of course, but I don't think she ought to have danced so much with him last night."
"And what of Rylton?" asks the Colonel, pulling the glass out of his eye and sticking it in again in an angry fashion. "Who did he dance with?"
"Yes. I saw," sadly.
"Well, why should he complain, then?" says Neilson, who can see the right and the wrong so much better because it is not his own case. "To tell you the truth, Margaret, I think Mrs. Bethune should not be here."
"I think that, too. But it appears it was Tita who invited her."