_I_ never believed there was anything seriously sentimental in the situation; and their renewed interest in each other is quite the most frankly sensible way out of any awkwardness," she added cordially.
Miserably uncomfortable, utterly unable to comprehend, the girl rode on in silence, her ears ringing with Rosamund's words.

And Rosamund, riding beside her, cool, blond, and cynically amused, continued the theme with admirable pretence of indifference: "It's a pity that ill-natured people are for ever discussing them; and it makes me indignant, because I've always been very fond of Alixe Ruthven, and I am positive that she does _not_ correspond with Captain Selwyn.

A girl in her position would be crazy to invite suspicion by doing the things they say she is doing--" "Don't, Mrs.Fane, please, don't!" stammered Eileen; "I--I really can't listen.

I simply will not!" Then bewildered, hurt, and blindly confused as she was, the instinct to defend flashed up--though from what she was defending him she did not realise: "It is utterly untrue!" she exclaimed hotly--"all that yo--all that _they_ say!--whoever they are--whatever they mean.

I cannot understand it--I don't understand, and I will not! Nor will _he_!" she added with a scornful conviction that disconcerted Rosamund; "for if you knew him as I do, Mrs.Fane, you would never, never have spoken as you have." Mrs.Fane relished neither the naive rebuke nor the intimation that her own acquaintance with Selwyn was so limited; and least of all did she relish the implied intimacy between this red-haired young girl and Captain Selwyn.
"Dear Miss Erroll," she said blandly, "I spoke as I did only to assure you that I, also, disregard such malicious gossip--" "But if you disregard it, Mrs.Fane, why do you repeat it ?" "Merely to emphasise to you my disbelief in it, child," returned Rosamund.