"Darling, just kiss me once--quickly--to say good-bye." And it was at this stage that Zara came full upon them, from a turn in the stairs.

She heard Tristram say disgustedly, "No, I won't," and saw Lady Highford drop her arms; and in the three steps that separated them, her wonderful iron self-control, the inheritance of all her years of suffering, enabled her to stop as if she had seen nothing, and in an ordinary voice ask if they were to go to the great hall.
"The woman," as she called Laura, should not have the satisfaction of seeing a trace of emotion in her, or Tristram either.

He had answered immediately, "Yes," and had walked on by her side, in an absolutely raging temper.
How dare Laura drag him into a disgraceful and ridiculous scene like this! He could have wrung her neck.

What must Zara think?
That he was simply a cad! He could not offer a single explanation, either; indeed, she had demanded none.

He did blurt out, after a moment, "Lady Highford was very much upset about something.