“What word?”
“The promise you made me that day by the brook.”
“About Gerald? Oh, sometimes I keep it and sometimes I don’t. He always makes up first, I will say that for him. He will never let me go to sleep without kissing him good night.”
“Then you did not tell Mary Sherwood that once you did not speak for three days?”
“Bless you, no; Gerald would not let that be true; it was no goodness in me that it wasn’t true, though; perhaps I told her that.”
“Do you talk to her about him?”
“Now, Granny, suppose I do!”
Tessa stood still. “Promise me—you shall not take another step with me till you do—that you will not talk to any one against him.”
“I won’t. Don’t gripe my hand so tight. He is my husband, he isn’t yours! When he’s contrary, I’ll be contrary, too, and I’ll tell people if I like.”
“Then you forfeit my friendship; remember I am not your friend.”