you look at Mrs Sucksby? Don''t say you care what she thinks! Why, you''re as bad as Sue. Look how you quake! Be bolder, Maud. Think of your mother.''
She had raised her hand to her hea_rt. Now she jumped as if he had pinched her. He saw it, and laughed again. Then he looked at Mrs Sucksby. She had also given a kind of start at his words; and she stood, with her hand, like Maud''s, at her bosom, beneath that diamond brooch. Then she felt him looking, glanced quickly at Maud, and let her hand fall.
Gentleman''s laughter died. He stood very still.
''What''s this?'' he said.
''What''s what?''said John.
''Now then,'' said Mrs Sucksby, moving. ''Dainty—''
''Oh!'' said Gentleman. ''Oh!'' He watched her as she stepped about the table. Then he looked from her to Maud, in an excited sort of way, his colour rising higher. He put his hand to his hair and tugged it back from his brow.
''Now I see it,'' he said. He laughed; then the laugh broke off. ''Oh, now I see it!''
''You see nothing,'' said Maud, taking a step towards him, but glancing at me. ''Richard, you see nothing.''
He shook his head at her. ''What a fool I''ve been, not to have guessed it sooner! Oh, this is marvellous! How long have you known? No wonder you''ve kicked and cursed! No wonder you''ve sulked! No wonder she''s let you! I always marvelled at that. Poor Maud!'' He laughed, properly. And, oh, Mrs Sucksby, poor you!''