"Are you quite shameless that you talk to me like this?" cries he. "Are you mad?" As he speaks, his fingers tighten on a piece of paper—evidently a letter—that he is holding in his right hand. "You must know that I saw you with him to-night—you—in his arms—you——"
Tita turns upon him.
"It is you who are mad," says she. She goes quite close to him. "He was going. He was bidding me good-bye." She pauses; her breath comes heavily, but she goes on: "He was bidding me good-bye, and—he told me he loved me——"
Rylton flings her from him.
"Do you pretend that was the first time?"
"The first—the first?" cries Tita passionately. "Do you think—do you dare to think that——"
"I refuse to tell you what I think. There is one thing more, however, to be said; you shall give up all further intercourse with your cousin."
Now, Tita had decided, during her late interview with Tom, that she would never willingly see him again; but here and thus to be ordered to do her own desire is more than she can bear.
"No, I shall not do that," says she.
"You shall," says Rylton, whose temper is now beyond his control.