hat is it to me whether you or all the world
saw me with Philip? Explain yourself."

"I will." In a low voice, almost choked with passion and despair. "You
will understand when I tell you I saw him with his arms around you--you
submitting--you---- And then--I saw him--kiss you. That I should live
to say it of you!"

"_Did_ you see him kiss me?" still calmly. "Your eyesight is
invaluable."

"Ah! you no longer deny it? In your inmost heart no doubt you are
laughing at me, poor fool that I have been. How many other times have
you kissed him, I wonder, when I was not by to see?"

"Whatever faults you may have had, I acquitted you of brutality," says
she, in a low, carefully suppressed tone.

"You never loved me. In that one matter at least you were honest; you
never professed affection. And yet I was mad enough to think that after
a time I should gain the love of a flirt,--a coquette."

"You were mad to _care_ for the love of 'a flirt,--a coquette.'"

"I have been blind all these past weeks," goes on he, unheeding,
"determined not to see (what all the rest of the world, no doubt, too
plainly saw) what there was between you and Shadwell. But I am blind no
longer. I am glad,--yes, thankful," cries the young man, throwing out
one hand, as though desirous of proving by action the truth of his sad
falsehood,--"thankful I have found you out at last,--before it was too
late."

"I am thankful too; but for another reason. I feel grateful that your
suspicions have caused you to break off our engagement. And now that it
is broken,--irremediably so,--let me tell you that for once your
priceless sight has played you false. I admit that Philip placed his
arm around me (but not unrebuked, as you would have it); I admit he
stooped to kiss me; but," cries Molly, with sudden passion that leaves
her pale as an early snow-drop, "I do _not_ admit he kissed me.
Deceitful, worthless, flirt, coquette, as you think me, I have not yet
fallen so low as to let one man kiss me while professing to keep faith
with another."

"You say this--after----"

"I do. And who is there shall dare give me the lie? Beware, Tedcastle;
you have gone far enough already. Do not go too far. You have chosen to
insult me. Be it so. I forgive you. But, for the future, let me see,
and hear, and know as little of you as may be possible."

"Molly, if what you now----"

"Stand back, sir," cries she, with an air of majesty and with an
imperious gesture, raising on