d Kitty, calmly, "that I am not to talk so much to
Geoffrey Cliffe?"

"Is he worth it?" said Ashe. "That's what I want to know--worth the fuss
that some people make?"

"It's the fuss and the people that drive one on," said Kitty, under her
breath.

"You flatter them too much, darling! Do you think you were quite kind to
me last night?--let's put it that way. I looked a precious fool, you
know, standing on those steps, while you were keeping old Mother Parham
and the whole show waiting!"

She looked at him a moment in silence, at his heightened color and
insistent eyes.

"I can't think what made you marry me," she said, slowly.

Ashe laughed, and came nearer.

"And I can't think," he said, in a lower voice, "what made you come--if
you weren't a little bit sorry--and lean your dear head against me like
that, last night."

"I wasn't sorry--I couldn't sleep," was her quick reply, while her eyes
strove to keep up their war with his.

A knock was heard at the door. Ashe moved hastily away. Kitty's maid
entered.

"I was to tell you, sir, that your breakfast was ready. And Lady
Tranmore's servant has brought this note."

Ashe took it and thrust it into his pocket.

"Get my things ready, please," said Kitty to her maid. Ashe felt himself
dismissed and went.

As soon as he was gone, Kitty sprang out of bed, threw on a
dressing-gown, and ran across to Blanche, who was bending over a chest
of drawers. "Why did you say those foolish things to me yesterday?" she
demanded, taking the girl impetuously by the arm, and so startling her
that she nearly dropped the clothes she held.

"They weren't foolish, my lady," said Blanche, sullenly, with averted
eyes.

"They were!" cried Kitty. "Of course, I'm a vixen--I always was. But you
know, Blanche, I'm not always as bad as I have been lately. Very soon I
shall be quite charming again--you'll see!"

"I dare say, my lady." Blanche went on sorting and arranging the
<i>lingerie</i> she had taken out of the drawer.

Kitty sat down beside her, nursing a bare foot which was crossed over
the other.

"You know how I abused you about my hair, Blanche? Well, Mrs. Alcot
said, that very night, she never saw it so well done. She thought it
must be Pierrefitte's best man. Wasn't it hellish of me? I knew quite
well you'd done it beautifully."

The maid said nothing, but a tear fell on one of Kitty's night-dresses.

"And you remember the green garibaldi--last week? I just loathed