"
"He would; but indeed, dear sir, I think it would be but right and
due to the dear child herself that she should have here free choice,
and not be bound for ever by a deception! Yes, I know the poor boy's
despair would be dreadful, but it would be better for them both than
such a mistake."
"Hush! I hear him knocking at the door, you cruel woman."
The bedroom opened into the parlour the party had hired, so that both
could come out and meet Sir Amyas with the door ajar, without relaxing
their watch upon the sleeper. The poor young man looked pale, shocked,
and sorrowful. "Well," said he, after having read in their looks that
there was no change, "he knows the worst." Then on a further token
of interrogation, "It may have been my fault; I took him, unannounced,
through the whole suite of rooms, and in the closet at the end, with
all the doors open, she was having an altercation with Mar. He was
insisting on knowing what she had done with"--(he signed towards the
other room) "she, upbraiding him with faithlessness. They were deaf
to an approach, till Mr. Wayland, in a loud voice, ordered me back,
saying 'it was no scene for a son.'"
"I trust it will not end in a challenge?" asked the Major, gravely.
"No, my father's infirmity renders him no fighting man, and I--I may
not challenge my superior officer.
Pages:
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408