"Oh!" He almost flings her from him. "There—let it be as you will," says he bitterly. "It is you cousin—your house."
Tita grows very pale.
"That is ungenerous," says she.
"I have all the faults, naturally." He goes towards the door, and then suddenly comes back and flings something upon the table before her. "You once told me you were fond of rings," says he.
The case has flown open, because of his passionate throwing of it, and an exquisite diamond and pearl ring lies displayed. Tita springs to her feet.
"Oh, wait! Don't go! Oh, do stop!" cries she, in great distress. "Fancy your thinking of me when you were in town! And what a lovely, lovely ring! Oh! Maurice—I'm sorry. I am indeed!"
She holds out her hands to him. Rylton, still standing on the threshold of the door, looks back at her.
Is it an apology? An admission that she has been wrong in her dealings with her cousin? An open declaration that this night's undignified proceedings are really being repented of?
He comes slowly back to her.
"If you are sorry——" begins he.