“Augusta!” said Miss Maitland sternly, “we are perhaps meddling in what is none of our affair; nevertheless, we have made up our minds to speak.”
“Well?”
“Are you trying to get the Duke of Bosworth away from Mabel Creighton?”
“I am not.”
“It looks like it.”
“Does it?”
“You are keeping something back, Augusta,” said Mrs. Burr. “Out with it.”
Miss Forbes recovered herself. “I am going to marry the Duke of Bosworth,” she said distinctly.
“Augusta Forbes!”
“Yes; and I have not cut out Mabel Creighton. I am perfectly willing to justify myself to you, as we have always kept to our compact to stand the truth from each other. He came over here to marry Mabel, but Mr. Creighton could not give him the portion—dot—you know. He is dreadfully embarrassed, but that is a dead secret.”