Miss Jane sprang from her seat, as if it, and not her nose, was red hot, exclaiming:
“Bless me, how extraordinary! What can this horrid man want? You will surely not see him?”
The servant stared, for he could scarcely think that the tall and handsome man, in the undress uniform of a commander in the navy, could possibly be the horrid man Miss Jane alluded to.
Sir Howard, remembering of old the contempt that O’Loughlin held him in, and how he himself detested him, hesitated whether he would see him or not; but suddenly making up his mind he said:
“Show Captain O’Loughlin up.”
“Dear me!” ejaculated Jane; “I must be gone, I am in such déshabille.”
“Stay where you are,” said the Baronet, sharply; he preferred not being alone. “It is only that horrid Irishman we have been talking of.”
It was too late to retreat, for a firm, active step was heard without; the next moment Captain O’Loughlin entered the room, in his easy off-hand, but gentlemanly manner. He paused on seeing Miss Jane Etherton, but Sir Howard, in a cold, constrained manner, said:
“My sister, Captain O’Loughlin.”
The sailor bowed, and taking a chair, said: