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"To live at Oakdean!" The girl's face grows transfigured. She stares at him as if hardly seeing him, however; her thoughts have carried her back to past delights in which he has had no part. "To live there again!" She sighs quickly, excitedly. "You haven't seen it, you don't know," says she. "But it is the most beautiful place on earth." She puts out her hand and lays it on his.
He might almost have believed himself content, but for that hateful monotonous voice at his ear. "Oh, it is pretty," says Tita, glancing round her. "It is lovely. It reminds me of Oakdean." "Oakdean?" "My old home," says she softly "where I lived with my father." "Ah, tell me something of your life," says Rylton kindly. No idea of making himself charming to her is in his thoughts.
"Flowers die," says she, with her eyes upon the ground. "Cut flowers. But I sent you a little plant." "Forget-me-not would not live in town." "But we shall not live in town. You have promised to come to the country with me," says he quickly. "And even if this plant dies, another can grow a new one. I told you that I bought a place. It it is in the same county as Oakdean." "Ah! Oakdean!"
He has, indeed, but one idea, and that is to encourage her to talk, so that he himself may enjoy the bliss of silence. "There is nothing," says she quickly. "It has been a stupid life. I was very happy at Oakdean, when," hesitating, "papa was alive; but now I have to live at Rickfort, with Uncle George, and," simply, "I'm not happy." "What's the matter with Rickfort?" "Nothing.
And after all, is she had only known, he was merely going to accuse himself of having been over-foolish when he induced Tita to ask her to Oakdean on a visit. "As you will," says he listlessly. "I was merely thinking of " "I know I know. Of course she would make me out the worst in the world, and I have reason to know that her cousin, Miss Hescott, told you stories about me. There was a night when
She had taken but a child's view of it. Maurice had been so kind, so good, so different from that nasty old uncle. He had done so much for her, she must do something for him. But she hated going back to The Place, for all that. She wanted to go straight to her own old home, her beautiful Oakdean, without a single stop. She has been at The Place now for a week.
She turns suddenly and looks at him, but he refuses to meet her glance. He can feel that she is trembling violently. Her hand is still in his, and her eyes are fixed intently on the open window near her. And now they are nearing Oakdean. She can see the pillars of the gates. A little cry escapes her. And now, now they are at the gate soon they will be past But what is this?
How Tita goes for a Walk with two sad Companions Anger and Despair; and how she meets Sir Maurice; and how she introduces him to Anger How Tita, running from the Enemy, suddenly finds herself Face to Face with another Foe; and how she fights a second Battle, and comes off victorious How a little Sparring is done amongst the Guests at Oakdean; and how Tom Hescott tells a Story
Tita, flitting gaily through the gardens and pleasure-grounds of her old dear home, her beloved Oakdean, tells herself that it is summer here at all events, whatever it may be in other stupid homes. Oakdean to-day is at its best, and that is saying a great deal.
"Well but, really, what is the matter with Miss Gower?" asks somebody. "Temper," puts in Mrs. Bethune, with a shrug. She is leaning back in an easy-chair, feeling and looking distinctly vexed. Maurice is away. This morning he had started for town to meet his mother, and bring her back with him for a short stay at Oakdean.
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