“Oh, he will not punish his wife; he will look out for some other victim.”
“Sign, you d—d old fool!” cried Reginald, seizing Mary Meyrick roughly by the arm.
Strange to say, Lady Bassett interfered, with a sort of majestic horror. She held up her hand, and said, “Do not dare to lay a finger on her!”
Then Mary burst into tears, and said she would sign the paper.
While she was signing it, Sir Charles's step was heard in the corridor.
He knocked at the door just as she signed. Reginald had signed already.
Lady Bassett put the paper into the manuscript book, and the book into the bureau, and said “Come in,” with an appearance of composure belied by her beating heart.
“Here is Mrs. Meyrick, my dear.”
In those few seconds so perfect a liar as Mary Meyrick had quite recovered herself.
“If you please, sir,” said she, “I be come to ast if you will give us a new lease, for ourn it is run out.”