‘No, no, indeed, I never did that.’
‘I knew it, I knew it, but I wished to be perfectly sure. You are too good, Edith, too honest to be swayed by mere class distinctions—’
He was suddenly and rather rudely interrupted by the abrupt tones of General Prioleau’s voice—
‘But I am not, Mr. Larkins, and the sooner you know that the better. You probably despise them, as you do those conventional rules of propriety by which any one of the gentleman class would be bound.’
The general spoke with great warmth. There was no abatement in the angriness of his tone as he turned to his daughter and said,
‘Edith, your mother and I have been looking for you for some time past. I hardly thought to find you here and to see that you have not kept your promise.’
‘I gave no promise; I never said I would not speak to Mr. Larkins again,’ Edith said stoutly, although her eyes were brimming over with tears.
‘Gaston, give Edith your arm, and take her back to her mother. I have a word or two to say to this—gentleman.’