There was a strange light in the dark eyes, a quiver on the scarlet lips, as Philippa said:
"Do you think so? Suppose some one had offended you as _Pauline_ offended _Claude_--laughing at the love offered, scorned, mocked, despised you--and that such vengeance as his lay in your power; would you not take it?"
"No, I would rather die," Madaline replied, quickly.
"I would take it, and glory in it," said the duchess, firmly
"If I were wounded, insulted, and slighted as _Claude_ was, I would take the cruelest revenge that I could."
Madeline took one of the jeweled hands in her own and kissed it.
"I should never be afraid of you," she said; "you can never hurt any one. Your vengeance would end in the bestowal of a favor."
"Do you think so highly of me, Madaline?" asked Philippa, sadly.
"Think highly of you! Why, you would laugh if you knew how I loved you--how I adore you. If all the world were to swear to me that you could do the least thing wrong, I should not believe them."
"Why do you call me 'poor child?'" she asked, laughingly.
"Because you have such implicit faith, and are sure to be so cruelly disappointed."
"I would rather have such implicit faith, and bear the disappointment, than be without both," said Madaline.
On the day of his departure the duke had said to his wife: "I have invited Norman to spend a few weeks with you; have some pleasant people to meet him. He tells me he shall not go to Scotland this year."
"I will ask Miss Byrton and Lady Sheldon," Philippa had promised.
"Only two ladies!" the duke had laughed. "He will want some one to smoke his cigar with."
"I will trust to some happy inspiration at the time, then," she had replied; and they had not mentioned the matter again.
Early in August Lord Arleigh wrote that if it were convenient he should prefer paying his promised visit at once. He concluded his letter by saying:
"My dear Philippa, your kind, good husband has said something to me about meeting a pleasant party. I should so much prefer one of my old style visits--no parties, no ceremonies. I want to see you and Verdun Royal, not a crowd of strange faces. Lady Peters is _chaperon_, if you have any lingering doubt about the 'proprieties.'"
So it was agreed that he should come alone, and later on, if the duchess cared to invite more friends, she could do so.