Page:In a winter city, by Ouida.djvu/299

 tells me you and this Italian that's always after you, have taken a liking to one another: is it true?—and what do you mean to do with him? There!"

He was horribly frightened when he had said it, but what he thought was his duty, that he did: and he conceived it to be his duty to speak.

All the blood leapt into the fair face of the Lady Hilda, her nostrils dilated in a fine anger, her lips grew pale.

"Mila is a little wretch!" she said, with strong passion; then was still; she was too generous to quote her own generosity, or urge her past gifts as present claims. "She is a little fool!" she added, with bitter disdain; "and how can you cheapen my name by listening to her chattering folly? Besides, what have you to do with me—or what has she? I am not used to dictation—nor to interference!"

"Oh, I know," said her brother, humbly. "And I beg your pardon, you are sure, and all that;—only, just tell me, how will it end?"

"How will what end?"