"What are ye after at all, colleen?" he said. "The pushkeen herself says ye are to go in two days and her wishes are to be first considered in this house." "Oh, are they?" said Tilly, her face almost black with rage, "then I'll tell--I'll tell!" "You'll tell nothing, Tilly Raynes," said Madam, coming up in her soft and sweet way; and, taking the girl out of the room, she closed the door between her and The Desmond. "Now you behave yourself while you are here," she said. "Himself is not to be worried. You understand that clear and cool. Go back and play with my daughters. You can't hurt our pushkeen nor The Desmond himself for all your trying." Tilly was terribly disappointed. What with the ferocity of The Desmond and the calm, cool firmness of Madam, she had not a chance to get out those hateful words, but she would punish pushkeen yet, yes she would. She did not go back to join the others but sitting in the porch, thought and thought out her system of revenge. Presently came the sound of horses' feet tramping down the avenue. Little Margot leaped to the ground as light as a feather, a groom sprang into view and Margot went straight up to Tilly. "Why aren't you with the others?" she said. "Oh, I have had a glorious ride!" "You are a nasty, mean, deceitful thing," said Tilly. "They would have kept me on here but for you, and I just downright hate you." "Oh, Tilly, you oughtn't," said Margot. "What have I done to you?" "Done! You've done enough in all conscience. You get everything, I get nothing; and when I went and spoke to The Desmond about staying a little longer, he said you didn't wish it--you, forsooth! I must ride that doddering old mare, and you must have that beautiful horse Starlight. You must have everything and I must have nothing. But I'll revenge myself on you yet, see if I don't!" "I'm sorry, Tilly," said Margot, in her sweet voice, "but I do think you ought to go back home on Thursday. You have been with us for three weeks and we have all tried to give you a good time." "You haven't, so don't think it," said Tilly. "Well, I did my best. I told you I should have to spend most of the time with my grand-dad, and the people and the place here do belong to me, Tilly, and they don't to you. I'm very, very sorry, but I do think you ought to go home. I wouldn't say it, indeed I wouldn't, if I didn't most truly think it. You'll have been here three weeks on Thursday, and that's a good long time, Tilly, now isn't it?" "I'll have my revenge, I vow I will," said Tilly. "I don't know what you can do, but you must just act as you please," said Margot in a very sad voice. "I did want to make you happy, I did most truly, but what was I to do? You wouldn't be happy, try as I would. You can't ride like a Desmond; it isn't in you." "Little shopkeeper, don't talk any more," said Tilly, and she dashed out of sight, crying as she went.