He hesitated--then went on, with lowered eyelids and a half-smile.
"I mean--what all our set's talking about--Errington's queer fancy for that actress at the Brilliant."
Thelma still gazed at him fixedly. "It is a mistake," she said resolutely, "altogether a mistake. And as you are his friend, Sir Francis, you will please contradict this report--which is wrong, and may do Philip harm. It has no truth in it at all--"
"No truth!" exclaimed Lennox. "It's true as Gospel! Lady Errington, I'm sorry for it--but your husband is deceiving you most shamefully!"
"How dare you say such a thing!" she cried, springing upright and facing him,--then she stopped and grew very pale--but she kept her eyes upon him. How bright they were! What a chilling pride glittered in their sea-blue depths!
"You are in error," she said coldly. "If it is wrong to visit this theatre you speak of, why are you so often seen there--and why is not some harm said of you? It is not your place to speak against my husband. It is shameful and treacherous! You do forget yourself most wickedly!"
And she moved to leave the room. But Sir Francis interposed.
"Lady Errington," he said very gently, "don't be hard upon me--pray forgive me! Of course I've no business to speak--but how can I help it? When I hear every one at the clubs discussing you, and pitying you, it's impossible to listen quite unmoved! I'm the least among your friends, I know,--but I can't bear this sort of thing to go on,--the whole affair will be dished up in the society papers next!"
And he paced the room half impatiently,--a very well-feigned expression of friendly concern and sympathy on his features. Thelma stood motionless, a little bewildered--her head throbbed achingly, and there was a sick sensation of numbness creeping about her.
"I tell you it is all wrong!" she repeated with an effort. "I do not understand why these people at the clubs should talk of me, or pity me. I do not need any pity! My husband is all goodness and truth,"--she stopped and gathered courage as she went on. "Yes! he is better, braver, nobler than all other men in the world, it seems to me! He gives me all the joy of my life--each day and night I thank God for the blessing of his love!"
She paused again. Sir Francis turned and looked at her steadily. A sudden thought seemed to strike her, for she advanced eagerly, a sweet color flushing the pallor of her skin.