n violent ebullition of temper. 'Mamma, it _can't_ be true. You are
saying it to tease me. You--you and papa would never have settled it
without telling me, without consulting Lady Myrtle, after all her
goodness?'

'No,' replied Mrs Mildmay, arming herself for the contest by a resolute
determination not to lose her self-control, however it might be tried;
'no, though a little reflection would show you that you should have more
trust in your parents, dear Jacinth; it was _not_ done without
consulting our kind old friend. And however she may regret it, I _know_
she respects your father's decision.'

Jacinth looked up eagerly; a reaction of hope came over her.

'Mamma,' she said breathlessly, 'believe me, I don't mean to be either
disrespectful or distrustful, but did Lady Myrtle say nothing against
it? Is she perhaps going to do so when--when she has thought everything
over?'

'She did say everything she could; she did use the strongest arguments
she had: but she could not but see that your father's _motives_ were
right, and so she saw it must be as he said,' replied Mrs Mildmay.

A harder look crept over Jacinth's face; the eager, almost nervous,
anxiety died out of it.

'There is something about all this that I do not understand,' she said.
'Unless you and papa mean to treat me as a baby, I think I have a right
to know. I think Lady Myrtle would say so.'

Mrs Mildmay felt much perplexed. Any approach to diplomacy, anything but
perfect candour and frankness, was so foreign to her nature, that it was
difficult for her not at once to speak out and explain the whole. But
then, if she did so, she might be only sowing seeds of future
bitterness. It was improbable, to say the least, that Jacinth had
realised in any definite way Lady Myrtle's intentions with regard to
her, seeing that the old lady had not announced them to her.

'All she can know is only that Lady Myrtle meant to do _something_,'
reflected Jacinth's mother. 'It would be for her happiness, and for that
of us all, that she should never know more.'

Jacinth saw the trouble in her mother's face.

'Mamma,' she said, 'if you won't speak to me openly, I will ask Lady
Myrtle herself.'

Mrs Mildmay flushed.

'Jassie,' she said quietly, 'you do not mean it, but your tone sounds
almost like a threat--to me--to your mother?' And in spite of herself,
her voice trembled a little.

But still Jacinth repeated coldly, 'I think I have a right to know.'

At that