* * * * *
The mother and son had scarcely left the room when Netta turned to her daughter with trembling lips.
"I haven't"—half whispering—"told them anything about the Hermes!"
"It was no theft!" said Felicia passionately. "I would tell anybody!"
Netta was silent, her face working with unspoken fear. Suddenly, Felicia said in her foreign English, pronounced with a slight effort, and very precisely:
"That is a very beautiful young man!"
Netta was startled.
"Lord Tatham? Not at all, Felicia. He is very nice, but I do not even call him good-looking."
"He is a very beautiful young man," repeated Felicia with emphasis, "and
I am going to marry him!"
"Felicia! for heaven's sake—do not show your mad ways here!" cried
Netta, white with new alarm.