“Engaged herself. Pah! You should have been here. Am I to sit still and witness another wreck in our unhappy family through your weakness and imbecility? Mr Leslie has had his answer, however. He will not come again.”
She swept out of the room, leaving her brother gazing vacantly before him.
“She seems almost to have forgotten poor Harry. I thought she would have taken it more to heart. But Monsieur de Ligny—Monsieur de Ligny? I cannot think. Another time I shall remember all, I daresay. Ah, my darling,” he cried eagerly, as Louise re-entered the room. “You heard what Mr Leslie said?”
“Yes, father.”
“And refused him?”
“Yes.”
Her father took her hand, and stood trying to collect his thoughts, which, as the result of the agony from which he had suffered, seemed now to be beyond control.
“Yes,” he said at last, “it was right. You could not accept Mr Leslie now. But your aunt said—”
He looked at her vacantly with his hand to his head.
“What did your aunt say about your being engaged?”