Rose looked at her brother, then advanced a few paces toward the door. “This is a surprise,” she said, faintly; “has anything happened? We—we didn’t expect you.” Her voice failed her as she saw her husband advancing, pale to his very lips with suppressed anger.
“How dare you come here, after what I told you?” he asked, in quick, low tones.
She shrank at his voice almost as if he had struck her. The blood flew into her brother’s face as he noticed the action; but he controlled himself, and, taking her hand, led her in silence to a chair.
“I forbid you to sit down in his house,” said Danville, advancing still; “I order you to come back with me! Do you hear? I order you.”
He was approaching nearer to her, when he caught Trudaine’s eye fixed on him, and stopped. Rose started up, and placed herself between them.
“Oh, Charles, Charles!” she said to her husband, “be friends with Louis to-night, and be kind again to me. I have a claim to ask that much of you, though you may not think it!”
He turned away from her, and laughed contemptuously. She tried to speak again, but Trudaine touched her on the arm, and gave her a warning look.
“Signals!” exclaimed Danville; “secret signals between you!”
His eye, as he glanced suspiciously at his wife, fell on Trudaine’s gift-book, which she still held unconsciously.
“What book is that?” he asked.