"Amuse the children, the next time, in some other way," she said.

"Though I can't see you, still I don't like to hear of your disfiguring your face by painting it blue." With that answer, she walked away a little by herself, evidently disappointed in her betrothed husband for the first time in her experience of him.
He cast another imploring look at me.

"Did you hear what she said about my face ?" he whispered.
"You have lost an excellent opportunity of speaking out," I answered.

"I believe you will bitterly regret the folly and the cruelty of deceiving her." He shook his head, with the immovable obstinacy of a weak man.
"Nugent doesn't think as you do," he said, handing me the letter.

"Read that bit there--now Lucilla is out of hearing." I paused for a moment before I could read.