'All she can know is only that Lady Myrtle meant to do something,' reflected Jacinth's mother. 'It would be for her happiness, and for that of us all, that she should never know more.'
Jacinth saw the trouble in her mother's face.
'Mamma,' she said, 'if you won't speak to me openly, I will ask Lady Myrtle herself.'
Mrs Mildmay flushed.
'Jassie,' she said quietly, 'you do not mean it, but your tone sounds almost like a threat—to me—to your mother?' And in spite of herself, her voice trembled a little.
But still Jacinth repeated coldly, 'I think I have a right to know.'
At that moment the door opened, and to Mrs Mildmay's immense relief her husband entered.
'What is the matter?' he asked quickly. 'Am I interrupting you?'
'On the contrary,' said his wife, 'I am very glad you have come. Jacinth is, as I half feared she would be, exceedingly upset by the news about Barmettle, and she seems to think we have not treated her with the confidence she deserves.'
'You cannot feel that, when I tell you that my decision was only made yesterday,' said her father to Jacinth.