'How long
do you intend to go on in this way!'

'In what way?'

'Do you wish to keep all our disputes as a spectacle for Arthur's
edification?'

Colouring with shame and displeasure, she sat down with a sort of 'I
am ready' air, and took off her walking things, laying them down
deliberately, and waiting in complete silence. Did she wish to embarrass
him, or did she await his first word to decide what line she should
take?

'Theodora,' he said at length, 'when I spoke last night, I did not know
how early your acquaintance with this lady had begun, or I should have
shown more regard to the feeling that arises between old companions. I
am afraid I gave you some unnecessary pain.'

This was unexpected; and she could not at once harden herself in
displeasure, so that though she spoke not, her countenance was
relenting.

'Did Mrs. Martindale mention what I told her yesterday!'

'No; she only said you had been here while I was gone to satisfy my
mind.'

'And did you?'

'I should never have defended Georgina's marriage if I had known the
whole; but the rest of what you have heard is slander.'

'That is what I came to explain;' and Percy repeated the history he
had before given to Violet, adding a warning of the same kind as John's
against placing Arthur in Mr. Gardner's way.

'The point is,' said Theodora, 'what construction is to be placed on the
present state of things? You and Lady Fotheringham, who have not
seen them, take one view; I, who do see them, and who know Georgina
intimately, take another, in which I agree with her husband and with the
elder sister, who lives with her.'

'Intimately! When you had no idea of this first affair!'

'Such follies are not to be published.'

'You WILL defend them!' cried Percy, impatiently.

'Am I to sit quiet when I hear injustice done to my oldest friend?'

'I wish that unhappy friendship had never begun!'

A silence broken by her coolly saying, 'Well, what is to come of all
this?'

Percy walked about the room and said, 'What do you mean?'

With a provoking air of meekness she said, 'I only want to know what you
expect of me.'

Excessively annoyed, he sharply answered, 'To be a reasonable woman.'

'Well?' said Theodora, with the same submissive voice. He had recovered
himself, and with no further show of temper, he sat down by her, saying,
'This is folly. We had better say what we mean. You feel strongly with
regard to your old playfellow; I cannot think w