“I’ll be telling my maid to pack,” she said.
“Just as you please,” said Colin.
“That’s what I please,” said she.
Colin felt a spasm of impotent fury with her. He could not have been more invincibly brutal, but he had not won. She went down with her flag flying, she was sinking unsubdued.
“Goodbye, my dear,” she said, “I was always devoted to you, and I thought you liked me. But you hate me, else you couldn’t have spoken to me like that. I’m sorry I was wrong about you. And I thank you for my visit.”
“So good of you to have come. Aunt Hester,” he said.
Violet had come out of the dining-room and was now close to them.
“I’ve got to go up to town, my dear,” said Aunt Hester, turning her back on Colin. “I must see to my togs.”
Violet cast one glance at Colin, who stood there all debonair and smiling.
“But you’ll be back this evening?” she said.