"You seem to be absolutely grieved at his chance of recovery," viciously.
"I have no doubt I seem to you all that is vilest and worst. I learned your opinion of me long ago."
"Well,"—scornfully—"I think you need scarcely choose either this time, or place, for one of your stand-up fights. When you remember what you have just said,—that you are actually sorry poor dear Archie is alive,—I think you ought to go away and feel very much ashamed of yourself."
"Did I say that?" indignantly.
"Oh, I don't know," indifferently,—as though his denial now cannot possibly alter the original fact; "something very like it, at all events."
"How can you so malign me, Lilian?" angrily. "No one can be more heartily sorry for poor Chesney than I am, or more pleased at his escape from death. You willfully misunderstand every word I utter. For the future,—as all I say seems to annoy,—I beg you will not trouble yourself to address me at all."
"I shall speak to you just whenever I choose," replies Miss Chesney, with superb defiance.
At this thrilling instant Chesney's door is again opened wide, and Dr. Bland comes out, treading softly, and looking all importance.
"You, my dear Miss Chesney!" he says, approaching her lightly; "the very young lady of all others I most wished to see. Not that there is anything very curious about that fact," with his cozy chuckle; "but your cousin is asking for you, and really, you know, upon my word, he is so very excitable, I think perhaps—eh?—under the circumstances, you know, it would be well to gratify his pardonable desire to see you—eh?"
"The circumstances" refer to the rooted conviction, that for weeks has been planted in the doctor's breast, of Miss Chesney's engagement to her cousin.