"I am sorry to disturb you," said Cecil; "but I think it is worth while, for the matter I have come about is somewhat important. Matilda wants to say something to you, Molly."
"What?" asked Molly. "Won't you sit down, Matilda? How do you do?"
Matilda flopped down on the nearest chair. She took off her hat, and wiped the moisture from her hot forehead.
"This is a very disagreeable business," she said, "and I can't imagine what Cecil Ross is about."
"Yes, you know perfectly well," said Cecil. "The fact is this, Molly: I had a walk with Matilda this afternoon. We sat in the summerhouse; we spoke of you and Kate O'Connor. While we were there I told Matilda that some of the mischievous reports with regard to poor Kate had been traced to her. In reply, she said that she had only circulated what you yourself had told her."
"What I told her?" repeated Molly, her eyes and cheeks alike flaming.
"Yes; and I thought the matter so important that I insisted on her coming here to tell her story to you direct."
"But I never told you anything, Matilda," said Molly.
"Yes, you did," said Matilda, driven to bay; "but I won't repeat it. I won't say anything unless—unless you, Cecil, promise."