A profound silence succeeded. The marchioness was frightened. Despencer was conscious of a faint emotion to which he had long been a stranger, and which he supposed to be honest shame. Hammond was too much moved to speak. Victoria hesitated only for an instant, then she went up to Belle impulsively and kissed her on the cheek.
“Lord Severn,” said Hammond, slowly, as soon as he could master himself, “you have done me the greatest service one man can do to another, and you have crushed me.”
“George!” ventured the marchioness.
Her husband frowned.
“Go home, Jane!” he said, curtly.
And that great woman walked out of the room as crestfallen as a small urchin that has been caught doing mischief and spanked.
Despencer followed of his own accord, without doing more than whisper to Hammond as he passed:
“I never apologize, and I never commit suicide, but I mean to be very firm with that marchioness.”
Victoria took her cousin’s arm.
“And I couldn’t think why Mr. Hammond jilted me this morning,” she laughed.