"Then I must declare—" and now Lord Fawn spoke very slowly—"then I must declare that under these circumstances, let the consequences be what they may, I must retreat from the enviable position which your favour has given me." The words were cold and solemn, and were ill-spoken; but they were deliberate, and had been indeed actually learned by heart.
"What do you mean?" said Lizzie, flashing round upon him.
"I mean what I say,—exactly. But perhaps it may be well that I should explain my motives more clearly."
"I don't know anything about motives, and I don't care anything about motives. Do you mean to tell me that you have come here to threaten me with deserting me?"
"You had better hear me."
"I don't choose to hear a word more after what you have said,—unless it be in the way of an apology, or retracting your most injurious accusation."
"I have said nothing to retract," said Lord Fawn solemnly.
"Then I will not hear another word from you. I have friends, and you shall see them."
Lord Fawn, who had thought a great deal upon the subject, and had well understood that this interview would be for him one of great difficulty, was very anxious to induce her to listen to a few further words of explanation. "Dear Lizzie—" he began.
"I will not be addressed, sir, in that way by a man who is treating me as you are doing," she said.