“I am not angry, mother. If I were only angry I should let the marriage go on, if Miss Clifton thought proper to do so, for I should know that my anger would pass away. No, I am not angry, mother, but shocked, repulsed, and totally estranged. I could no more marry Miss Clifton now, than I could take any other loathed object to my bosom! The idea makes me shudder!”
“Still I affirm that all this is intense anger, nothing else, and that there will come a reaction. Why in anger, Archer, the object is as much loathed as in love it is desired—but that is temporary, and this, I hope, you will find permanent. I hope, at bottom, you respect Carolyn? I esteem her. She has been a spoiled child, but has so many undeveloped good qualities, that she only wants the discipline of a little affection to make her a very excellent woman. I shall say no more about this affair to-night, but wait to see what disposition I shall find you in to-morrow!”
At this moment there was a knock at the door, and instantly afterwards Henny came in and informed her mistress that Mr. Kavanagh had come to take his sister home.
“Ask Mr. Kavanagh to sit down in the hall. Put up your sewing, Catherine, my dear!” said the lady.
Catherine arose to fold up her work, while Captain Clifton looked very much as if he would like to stop her again.
“Does she not remain with you at night, madam?”
“Certainly not—her brother always comes for her at bedtime.”
“How early does she come in the morning?”
“She never comes in the morning. Catherine has her own domestic affairs to attend to during the forenoon. She never gets here till late in the afternoon.”
“Then I shall not see her to-morrow—not see her again for many months—perhaps never see her again! Come here, Catherine!”