"Good-bye."
He has his hand upon her shoulder now.
"Do you know you have never once called me by my name," says he.
"Have I not?" mournfully.
"Not once; and if we are to be friends—friends, at least—you might——" He pauses, but no answer comes. "Well, good-bye," says he again.
He is half-way across the room when she says: "Good-bye, Maurice," in a faint tone, like a child repeating a lesson.
The sorrow in Rylton's heart is deeper as he leaves the house.
CHAPTER XXIX.
HOW A JOURNEY IS BEGUN AS THE DAY DIES DOWN; AND HOW THAT JOURNEY ENDS; AND HOW A GREAT SECRET IS DISCOVERED—THE SECRET OF TITA'S HEART.
The parting between Margaret and Tita had taken a long time. There had been many admonitions from the former, and entreaties from the latter, principally about Margaret's coming to see her as soon as possible. These precious moments had been broken in upon by Colonel Neilson, who had sent up word by one of the servants that he asked a few minutes' conversation with Miss Knollys.