You know very little of Society if you think you will be tolerated _there."_ "I know nothing of Society," returns Tita, now very pale, "and perhaps you will understand me when I say that I never want to know anything.

If Society means people who tell hateful, unkind stories of a husband to his wife, I think I am very well out of it." "That is a little censure upon poor me, I suppose," says Lady Rylton with a difficult smile.

She looks at Tita.

Evidently she expects Tita to sink into the ground beneath that austere regard, but Tita comes up smiling.
"Well, yes.

After all, I suppose so," says she slowly, thoughtfully.
"You shouldn't have told me that story about Maurice and----" She stops.
"I shall not permit you to dictate to me what I should or should not do," interrupts Lady Rylton coldly.