‘I see you esteem it a great liberty,’ said poor Mr. Calthorp; ‘but you must forgive my impulse to see whether I could be of any assistance to you. I will do as you desire, but at least you will let me leave Stefano with you; he is a fellow full of resources, who would make you comfortable here, and me easy about you.’
‘Thank you, we require no one.’
Those ‘thank you’s’ were intolerable, but her defensive reserve and dignity attracted the gentleman more than all her dashing brilliancy, and he became more urgent. ‘You cannot ask me to leave you entirely to yourselves under such circumstances.’
‘I more than ask it, I insist upon it. Good morning.’
‘Miss Sandbrook, do not go till you have heard and forgiven me.’
‘I will not hear you, Mr. Calthorp. This is neither the time nor place,’ said Lucilla, inly more and more perturbed, but moving along with slow, quiet steps, and betraying no emotion. ‘The object of our journey was totally defeated by meeting any of our ordinary acquaintance, and but for this mischance I should have been on my way home to-day.’
‘Oh! Miss Sandbrook, do you class me among your ordinary acquaintance?’
It was all she could do to hinder her walk from losing its calm slowness, and before she could divest her intended reply of undignified sharpness, he continued: ‘Who could have betrayed my presence? But for this, I meant that you should never have been aware that I was hovering near to watch over you.’
‘Yes, to collect good stories for your club.’
‘This is injustice! Flagrant injustice, Miss Sandbrook! Will you not credit the anxiety that irresistibly impelled me to be ever at hand in case you should need a protector?’