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Updated: June 21, 2025
"Yes, for my sins. Fred Hastings is a very old friend of mine." "What a great many old friends you have," says Mrs. Bethune softly. "Well, it is better to have old friends than no friends" making the retort courteous, with a beaming smile. "I've been staying at the Hastings', too," says Minnie Hescott, glad to show that she is within the sacred circle, even though it be on its outermost edge.
"If ever I should, I shall have Maurice!" says she coldly. Hescott looks at her. Of course he has been told that old story about Mrs. Bethune, and has seen for himself many things. "You are an angel!" says he at last, very sadly; yet he would not have wished her less than that. "Don't be absurd!" says Tita most ungratefully.
"And after that," goes on Hescott, "if if " He breaks down. "Well, if that comes, you know I love you, Tita." He tries to take her hand. "Don't touch me!" says Tita vehemently. She pushes his hand from her; such a disdainful little push. "Oh, I thought you really did love me," says she, "but not like this!" Suddenly a sort of rage and of anger springs to life within her.
He slips out from behind the screen, and galloping up the room comes to the screen very nearly as soon as Rylton. Not soon enough, however. Rylton has turned the corner of it, and found Tita with Tom Hescott crouching behind it, whispering together, and evidently enjoying themselves immensely. As she sees him, Tita gives a little cry.
She smiles as she asks her question, and the cousin smiles back at her. And not handsome in any common way, either. If his father had been a duke, he could not have shown more breeding in look and gesture and voice. The fact that "Uncle Joe," the sugar merchant, was his actual father, does not do away with his charm; and his sister, Minnie Hescott, is almost as handsome as he is!
But Minnie Hescott, who has gone down the steps into the garden, has seen something too that fair, fierce face leaning over the balcony! The eyes are following Tita and her brother, Tom Hescott. "You have said," says Rylton, when the steps have ceased, "that you would warn me about my wife. Of what?" She shrugs her shoulders.
Rylton can hardly account to himself for the terrible revulsion of feeling he endures at this moment. Is it joy? Can it be joy? What is she to him or he to her? Yet positively it is a most thankful joy he feels as he sees these two men approaching him together. After all, Minnie Hescott had been right.
The little revenge hardly seems so delightful now, however, as she springs from her horse, and running into the hall, followed by Hescott, sees by the clock there that it is just half-past ten. "Oh! you should have told me," cries she, most unjustly turning upon Tom. "Good heavens! How could I? I didn't know myself. I told you I had left my watch on my dressing-table."
There is a little reproach in her tone. Suddenly she puts out her little slim hand and slips it into his. "As if we weren't brought up together," says she, "just like a brother and sister. You remember the old days, don't you, Tom? when we used to go fishing together, and the cricket " "Is it wise to remember?" says Hescott in a low tone. His heart is beating; his fingers now close on hers.
"Give me yours," says Tita, thrusting her hand into her husband's pocket and pulling out his handkerchief. The little familiar action sends a sharp pang through Mrs. Bethune's heart. "Now, Tom, come and be decorated," cries Tita. Hescott advances to her, and stops as if waiting. "Ah!" cries she, "do you imagine I could ever get up there!"
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