"Yes," said Violet, with a sigh. "It is all so sudden and—and what is strange, Lord Boisdale has accompanied them."
"It is strange and most dishonorable," said Howard Murpoint. "For Mr. Fairfax to forget or ignore honesty is one thing; but for Lord Fitz Boisdale to lend himself to an underhanded and dishonorable course is quite another. Lackland is in the deepest grief; Lord Lackland is stricken down with affliction, and, of course, my dear Violet, you will show your disapproval of the scandalous affair by withdrawing your friendship from both parties."
Violet, who had listened with shamed and pained attention, flushed deeply.
"Do you know," she said, slowly, "that Lord Fitz asked me to be his wife?"
The captain did know it, but he professed complete ignorance, and grew deadly pale and haggard. Violet rose with alarm, but he stopped her from calling out for assistance by grasping her arm.
"Do not call—give me time. Oh, Violet! Violet!" he groaned, hiding his face in his hands.
Violet gazed at him with her deep, mournful eyes opened to their utmost. At present she did not understand his elaborate acting.
"How have I pained you?" she murmured. "Do you not like Lord Boisdale?"
"Do you love him?" he retorted, suddenly, gazing searchingly and with quivering lips into her face. "Answer me, I implore you, dear, dear Violet! Do you love him? If you say yes; if you tell me that you have given your heart to him, I will say no more; I will leave you—leave England, and I will pray that you may be happy! Answer me, oh, answer me!"
Violet trembled and looked troubled.