In another moment, half beside herself with jealous rage, she caught the cap and glasses from Golden's head and face, and cried out in low, hoarse accents of intense passion:
"Golden Glenalvan, you shameless creature, what are you doing here?"
Golden sprang to her feet and looked at her heartless cousin in momentary terrified silence.
"What are you doing here?" Elinor repeated, in a voice of raging scorn. "Did you wish to advertise your disgrace to Bertram Chesleigh's sister?"
"Disgrace?" faltered the poor, heart-broken child.
"Yes, your disgrace. It is plain enough to be seen!" cried Elinor, pointing a scornful finger at her cousin, who had dropped into a chair and hid her blushing face in her small hands. "Did you come here that Mrs. Desmond might learn the full measure of her brother's sin?"
Golden looked up with tear-wet, blue eyes into the blazing orbs of the angry girl.
"Elinor, I did not know she was his sister until after I came," she murmured, pleadingly.
"But when you found it out, why did you not go away?" Elinor demanded, sharply.