CHAPTER XVIII.
HOW TITA GETS A SCOLDING, AND HOW SHE REBELS AND ACCUSES SIR MAURICE OF BREACH OF CONTRACT.
"Can I come in ?" Rylton's voice is a little curt as he knocks at his wife's door.

It is not the door opening into the corridor outside, but the inner door that leads from her room to his, and to the dressing-room beyond.
"Yes, of course," cries Tita pleasantly.
She is just on the point of dismissing her maid for the night--the maid who has so little to do; no long hair to brush, only the soft little curly locks that cover her mistress's head.

She has taken off Tita's evening gown, and, now that the little locks have been carefully seen to, has taken off her dressing-gown also.

It occurs to Tita that she might as well take _herself_ off as well, and as soon as possible.
This thought makes her laugh.
"You can go now, Sarah," says she to the maid, who loves her; "and don't bring me my tea before eight to-morrow, because I'm as sleepy as sleepy can be." She nods kindly to the dismissed maid, and, going to the door where Rylton is presumably standing, lets him in.
"How early you are!" says she, thinking of the glories of the smoking-room below.
"How late you are!" returns he.

"I half fancied you would have been asleep by this time!" "Oh, well, I soon shall be!" says she.