Ashe laughed too.
"Are you going to tell me about them also?"
She drew herself up.
"No! I play fair, always—ask anybody! Oh, I do want to go back to France so badly!" Once more she was all appeal and childishness. "Anyway, I won't stay in England! I have made up my mind to that!"
"How long has it taken?"
"A fortnight," she said, slowly—"just a fortnight."
"That hardly seems time enough—does it?" said Ashe. "Give us a little longer."
"No—I—I hate you!" said Lady Kitty, with a strange drop in her voice. Her little fingers began to drum on the table near her, and to Ashe's intense astonishment he saw her eyes fill with tears.
Suddenly a movement towards the other room set in around them. Madame d'Estrées could be heard giving directions. A space was made in the large drawing-room—a little table appeared in it, and a footman placed thereon a glass of water.
Lady Kitty looked up.