“I shall do nothing of the kind. I won't be told by-and-by I have done wrong. I will do your business, but it shall be in your hearing. Then you can interfere, if you choose. Only you had better not put your word in till you see what I am driving at.”
With a little more encouragement, Zoe was prevailed on to sponge her tearful eyes and compose herself, and join Harrington at supper.
Miss Maitland soon retired, pleading fatigue and packing; and she had not been gone long, when Fanny gave her friend a glance and began upon Harrington.
“You are very fond of Mr. Severne, are you not?” said she.
“I am,” said Vizard, stoutly, preparing for battle. “You are not, perhaps.”
Fanny laughed at this prompt pugnacity. “Oh, yes, I am,” said she; “devoted. But he has a weakness, you must own. He is rather fond of gambling.”
“He is, I am sorry to say. It is his one fault. Most of us have two or three.”
“Don't you think it would be a pity if he were to refuse to go with us tomorrow—were to prefer to stay here and gamble?”
“No fear of that: he has given me his word of honor.”
“Still, I think it would be hardly safe to tempt him. If you go and tell him that friend of his won such a lot of money, he will want to stop; and if he does not stop, he will go away miserable. You know they began betting with his money, though they went on with their own.”