In that moment, also, his own nature seemed to undergo a change.
"Where is Lucy?" he asked, loudly and sternly, of Margaret.
Margaret, without answering him, led him from the room, and he supposed she was about to lead him to his daughter. But Margaret's first intention was to remove him from the observation of the guests, who were already beginning to talk of the incident. That girl the daughter of an actor! they said to one another. Well, it was, no wonder she was so pretty! They know how to make themselves up, my dear! As for Gerald Weston, his attentions to her were now easily to be understood. But they were astonished at old Mr. Weston introducing such people. The girl and her friend had been living in the house for a fortnight Indeed! And so on, and so on.
Fortunately for them, and for Mr. Hart also, he was out of hearing of this gossip. Margaret led him into the air, and the first persons they saw were Lucy and Gerald strolling toward the house. Mr. Hart's mind was thrown off its balance by grief and passion. He tore Lucy from Gerald's arm, and cried:
"Gerald Weston, are you a coward or a villain?"
"Mr. Hart!" exclaimed Gerald, confounded by this startling address.
"Dear friend," entreated Margaret, "be calm."
Lucy looked imploringly from one to the other.
"No more fair words," cried Mr. Hart; "I have had enough of them! Honesty has died out of the world."
He turned to Mr. Weston, who, fearing a scene, had followed his old friend into the garden, and said in a bitter, passionate tone: