‘I interrupted her, “My temptation is to make
him the laughing stock of his acquaintance, and, if he has the impudence to give me the opportunity, I will!” And then I told her, without names, of course, that story about this Vidame Potter and Violet Lebas.’
‘I did not,’ said Merton. ‘But why Vidame Potter?’
‘His father was a Mr. Potter; his grandfather married a Miss Lalain—I know all about it—and this creature has wormed out, or invented, some story of a Vidameship, or whatever it is, hereditary in the female line, and has taken the title. And this is the man who has had the impertinence to talk about me, a Ker of Graden.’
‘But did not the story you speak of make her see that she must break off her daughter’s engagement?’
‘No. She was very much distressed, but said that her daughter Matilda would never believe it.’
‘And so you are to go to Upwold?’
‘Yes, it is a mournful place; I never did anything so good-natured. And, with the widow’s knowledge, I am to do as I please till the girl’s eyes are opened. I think it will need that stratagem we spoke of to open them.’
‘You are sure that you will be in no danger from evil tongues?’
‘They say, What say they? Let them say,’ answered Mrs. Brown-Smith, quoting the motto of the Keiths.