* * * * *
"Well?" says Margaret, coming into the room half an hour later. "Why, what a little snowflake you are! Come up to the fire and warm those white cheeks. Was it Maurice made you look like that? I shall scold him. What did he say to you?"
"He wants me to go back to him."
"Yes?" anxiously.
"Well—— That's all."
"But you, dearest?"
"Oh, I can't bear to think of it!" cries Tita, in a miserable tone.
At this Margaret feels hope dying within her. Beyond question she has again refused to be reconciled to him. Margaret is so fond of the girl that it goes to her very heart to see her thus wilfully (as she believes) throwing away her best chance of happiness in this world.
"Tita, have you well considered what you are doing? A woman separated from her husband, no matter how free from blame she may be, is always regarded with coldness by——"
"Oh, yes! I know," impatiently. "He has been saying all that."