“Now, Le,” he said, when both were seated, “where were you going?”
“To Greenbushes, of course. I ought to be there to look after my property.”
“Yes, yes; but Beever don’t expect you to-night and has not got things ready for you; and besides it is too late. Don’t leave us to-night, Le. Don’t hurry away! Your doing so would hurt Odalite. She would think she had driven you away.”
“Well, then, I will not go. I have hurt Odalite enough. If my going would hurt her I would stay here and stand that ruffian’s insolence until he takes her away. I beg your pardon, uncle, for calling your intended son-in-law a ruffian.”
“Oh, fire away, my lad! You have every right to swear! I feel like joining you.”
“His insolence in laughing when you praised my aunt so much!”
“But I did not praise her above her merits. Why, just look at her, Le! Nearly forty years old, and the very handsomest woman in the country, and as noble and perfect in mind as in person!”
“Yes; and he laughed!”
“Look here, Le. You know he was a brother officer of my wife’s brother, and an old friend of hers. Now, I’ll tell you what, I often think that he was a rejected suitor of Lady Elfrida Glennon. And the memory of it makes him sore and sarcastic at times. Many little things in their intercourse makes me think that sometimes. Bear with him, Le, as I shall do, for Odalite’s sake. Now shall we return to the drawing room?”
“If you please.”