“If it pleases you to do so—you can of course.”
Lord Ethalwood entered, and crept up to the chair on which the young woman was seated.
“Tell me,” said he in a voice of deep emotion, “the reason for my being received so coldly by the inhabitants of a house where I was wont to receive nought but kindness. Have I done ought to offend you, Theresa?”
“Nothing whatever,” was the quick response, “but the aspect of affairs has greatly altered since you were last here, and I am no longer my own mistress—am not free to do as I might wish.”
“Not your own mistress? Surely you are not united to that——”
“No, I am not,” she answered, interrupting him quickly; “but I was under an engagement which is now broken off. Ah, why did you leave so precipitately?” she added, regarding him with a reproving look.
“Why?” he replieed. “For a very cogent reason, Theresa. I learned from your mother that you were affianced to the young man I was introduced to just before I took my departure. I was duly impressed with the awkwardness of the situation in which I so suddenly and unexpectedly found myself, and felt it my duty to retire from a scene in which I appeared to be an interloper. From prudential motives I deemed it expedient to leave.”
“Just at a time when your presence was most needed,” returned Theresa.
“Just at a time when my presence was least needed—so I concluded.”
“You might have consulted me on the subject, my lord, before you took your departure. I am free to confess that I think you have not acted altogether so prudently as you might have done under the circumstances.”