“Is he your debtor for what he ought, but never means, to pay?”
“Not even that. What I may have given him has been always without any reserve or thought of restitution.”
“Are your affections directed towards the same object?”
As she said this, the ease in which she commenced gradually left her, and her cheek grew flushed ere she finished.
“I cannot tell. There are no confidences between us; besides, a very bankrupt in love could not envy my solvency. Mine is a heart that cannot threaten dangerous rivalry!”
“You cannot be certain of that!” said she, as if thinking aloud.
Fortunately, Cashel did not hear the words, but stood in deep revery for some seconds.
“There! the second bell has rung; I must leave you. My Lord comes down to dinner to-day. It is by his orders that I am thus showily dressed. Linton has been filling his mind with stories of some embassy he is to have, and we are already rehearsing 'our excellencies!' I have but time to say, Be on your guard; Linton is no common enemy, nor does it need an injury to make him one.”
“It is very rude of me, I know, to interrupt so interesting a tête-à-tête, but Mr. Cashel's cook has feelings also at stake.”
These words were spoken by Lord Kilgoff, who, in a tone of no small irritation, now joined them.