"I saw you write it and throw it."
He stretched out his hand. Kitty hesitated, then slowly unclosed her own, and held out the small, white palm on which lay the crumpled slip.
Ashe read it and tore it up.
"That game, Kitty, was hardly worth the candle!"
"It was a perfectly harmless remark—and only meant for Eddie! Any one else than Lord Parham would have laughed. Then I might have begged his pardon."
"It is what you ought to do now," said Ashe. "A little note from you, Kitty—you could write it to perfection—"
"Certainly not," said Kitty, hastily, locking her hands behind her.
"You prefer to have failed in hospitality and manners," he said, bitterly. "Well, I'm afraid if you don't feel any disgrace in it I do. Lord Parham in our guest!"
And Ashe turned on his heel and would have left her, when Kitty caught him by the arm.
"William!"