“Yes, sir,” I said, feeling very much in the way, as I stood where I had risen.
“Sit down, Antony,” said Miss Carr quietly; and as I obeyed I saw an angry flush cross Mr Lister’s countenance.
“Will you give me a few minutes in the next room, Miriam dear?” he said in a low voice.
“In my last answer to your letters, John,” she replied, “I begged that you would not come to see me for a month or two. Why are you here now?”
“Why am I here now?” he said in a low, deep voice. “Can you ask me? Because I want to speak to you—particularly—come in the next room.”
I could not help looking hard at him as he spoke, and thinking about what I had heard concerning his affairs, and as I thought that he was to marry Miss Carr to pay off his debts, a strong feeling of resentment against him made me almost determine to utter some word of warning.
“He is so handsome, and has such a way with him,” I thought, “that she will do just as he wishes her;” but as the thoughts were in my mind, I was surprised and pleased by finding Miss Carr take quite a firm standing.
“You can have nothing more to say to me, John, than has been said already. I have told you that at least six months must elapse before I can consent to what you ask.”
“Will you come into the next room, or send away that boy?” he said in a low voice, but one which showed that he was fast losing his temper.
“No,” she said firmly; “and after my last letter I think it cruel of you to press me.”