Lady Standish turned her head, lifted heavy lids and for a moment fixed upon him the most beautiful eyes in the world.
"Nay," said she, "I made no confession." Her tongue trembled upon other protestations, yet Kitty's warning carried the day.
"Tell me," said he, and bent to her, "tell me was it Lord Verney after all?"
Lady Standish again raised her eyes to his face, and could such a thing have been possible in a creature whose very being was all tenderness, he would have sworn that in her gaze there was contempt.
"Sir Jasper," said she, "it never was Lord Verney!" And then she added: "Has there not been enough of this?"
As she spoke she moved her hands and involuntarily looked down at the letter she held. Then she sat as if turned to stone. The letter was in Sir Jasper's writing and addressed to Mistress Bellairs!
"What have you there?" cried he.
"Nay," said she, "I know not, for 'tis not my letter. But you will know." And she held it up to him, and her hand did not tremble, yet was a cold fear upon her. "You wrote it," she said. He stared and his countenance changed, utter discomposure fell upon him.
"Julia," cried he, "Julia, upon my honour! I swear 'twas nothing, less than nothing, a mere idle bit of gallantry—a jest!" As he spoke he fell upon one knee in the chaise, at her feet.
"Then I may read it?" said she.