Thelma's lips quivered. "I--I am not well, Britta," she murmured, and suddenly her self-control gave way, and she broke into tears. In an instant Britta was kneeling by her, coaxing and caressing her, and calling her by every endearing name she could think of, while she wisely forbore from asking any more questions. Presently her sobs grew calmer,--she rested her fair head against Britta's shoulder and smiled faintly. At that moment a light tap was heard outside, and a voice called-"Thelma! Are you there?"
Britta opened the door, and Sir Philip entered hurriedly and smiling--but stopped short to survey his wife in dismay.
"Why, my darling!" he exclaimed distressfully. "Have you been crying?"
Here the discreet Britta retired.
Thelma sprang to her husband and nestled in his arms.
"Philip, do not mind it," she murmured. "I felt a little sad--it is nothing! But tell me--you do love me? You will never tire of me? You have always loved me, I am sure?"
He raised her face gently with one hand, and looked at her in surprise.
"Thelma--what strange questions from you! Love you? Is not every beat of my heart for you? Are you not my life, my joy--my everything in this world?" And he pressed her passionately in his arms and kissed her.
"You have never loved any one else so much?" she whispered, half abashed.
"Never!" he answered readily. "What makes you ask such a thing?"
She was silent. He looked down at her flushing cheeks and tear-wet lashes attentively.
"You are fanciful to-day, my pet," he said at last. "You've been tiring yourself too much. You must rest. You'd better not go to the Brilliant Theatre to-night--it's only a burlesque, and is sure to be vulgar and noisy. We'll stop at home and spend a quiet evening together--shall we?"
She raised her eyes half wistfully and smiled. "I should like that very, very much, Philip!" she murmured; "but you know we did promise Clara to go with her to-night. And as we are so soon to leave London and return to Warwickshire, I should not like to disappoint her."
"You are very fond of Clara?" he asked suddenly.
"Very!" She paused and sighed slightly. "She is so kind and clever--much more clever than I can ever be--and she knows many things about the world which I do not. And she admires you so much, Philip!"
"Does she indeed?" Philip laughed and colored a little. "Very good of her, I'm sure! And so you'd really like to go to the Brilliant to-night?"