"No—no." Toni's breath came in short gasps, as though she had been running. "I can't stay with Owen. I make him miserable, he's ashamed of me—I'm no good to him, only a bore—a useless creature who's tied to him ... if I were gone he would be really better off—and as you say, he could marry again——"
"I don't suppose he would do that," said Eva gently. "You know he is very fond of you, Toni—I got even Jim to acknowledge that the other night"—she watched Toni wince at the "even"—"and it's only that you—well, you're not quite his sort, somehow."
Her words seemed to rouse Toni to anger.
"You have said that already," she said sharply. "You needn't repeat it."
"I'm sorry, Toni." Eva's big eyes looked imploringly into hers. "I'm afraid I've said far too much to-day. After all, I have no earthly right to interfere, and you are quite justified in resenting my interference."
Toni's sudden anger died away.
"Oh, you were quite right," she said, sighing as she spoke.
"I'm glad you said what you did—and I can't help knowing you are right. Only"—she shivered, and her face looked white and pinched—"somehow until I heard you saying it I hoped I myself was making a mistake."
"But—you'll not do anything rash?" Eva was vaguely uneasy at the result of her plot.
"Oh, no, I'll do nothing rash," said Toni, with a queer smile; and Eva's uneasiness deepened.