"Come and sit down," he said, "and tell me all about it. Have I ever
taken anybody's part against you, Morna, that you should think me likely
to begin now?"
"No; but you would if you thought they were right and I was wrong."
Hugh reflected until they reached the garden-seat upon the lawn.
"Well, not openly, at all events," said he; "and not under any
circumstances I can conceive in which Mrs. Venables was the other
person."
"But she isn't the only other person; that is just it. Oh, Hugh, you do
like Rachel, don't you?"
"I do," he said emphatically. "But surely you haven't been quarrelling
with her?"
"No, indeed! And that is exactly why I _have_ quarrelled with Mrs.
Venables, because I wouldn't refuse to go to the dinner-party at
Normanthorpe to-night!"
Woodgate was naturally nonplussed.
"Wouldn't refuse?" he echoed.
"Yes. She actually asked me not to go; and now I do believe she has gone
driving round to ask everybody else!"
Woodgate's amazement ended in a guffaw.
"And that is what you quarrelled about!" he roared. "The woman must be
mad. What reason did she give?"
"She had a reason, dear."
"But not a good one! There can be no excuse for such an action, let
alone a good reason!"
Morna looked at her husband with sidelong anxiety, wondering whether he
would say as much when he had heard all.
Pages:
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218