“Oh, no,” she faltered again, miserably, feeling as if he desired the negative; but she started when he exclaimed, with curt emphasis:
“I am very glad to hear it.”
“Why?” she faltered, looking up at him, but the handsome face was averted.
But he had heard the timid question, for presently he answered, coldly:
“I have been trying to be patient and wait until you were able to dispense with your maid. That impertinent woman has to go!”
“My good Phebe to leave me? Oh, I can not let her go!” Molly cried, wildly; but Cecil answered, relentlessly:
“I expected this. It does not matter to you that the woman has been grossly impertinent to my mother and to our friend, Miss Barry. Perhaps,” scornfully, “you tutored her to that end.”
“I cannot let her go!” Molly cried, her head dropping forlornly on her breast.
“She shall go! She has been rude to my mother, and my wife, as her guest, has no right to retain a servant distasteful to her hostess,” Cecil said, loftily.
She hesitated a moment, then said, desperately: