"O yes, indeed!" said Rotha earnestly. "For every reason."
"All the more, I am not going to play the part of guardian to-night. Rotha I think now, it would be as well to return to Mrs. Mowbray for these eight months. Would you like that?"
"O I shall like it very much! if you like it."
"Things are changed, since we talked about it this afternoon."
"Yes!—" said Rotha breathless. And there was something she wanted to say, but at that minute she could not say it. For that minute she could not disturb the sweetness of things as they were. Scruples must wait. Mr. Southwode saw that she was a little disturbed, shy and nervous, albeit there was no doubt that she was very happy. He stretched out his hand and took hers, holding it in a fast steady clasp; as if to assure her of something tangible and real in her new happiness. "Now," said he, "tell me about yourself—about all these years."
"I did tell you, in part."
"Yes. Tell me the other part. I want to have the whole now."
"It would just—annoy you, I am afraid."
"What sort of a home did you have with your aunt?"
"Not pleasant. That was partly my own fault. I was not patient and gentle and quiet—as you told me to be. I got into a kind of a fury, at things and at her."