“I suppose you are jealous, and that is the whole truth!” cried Juliana.
“And if I am, have I no cause?”
“If you think I care for someone else I wonder that you don’t try to win me back,” said Miss Marling, stealing a look at him under her lashes.
“Then you have very little understanding of my character, ma’am. I do not desire a wife who could give me cause for jealousy.”
“You need not have one, sir,” said Miss Marling, her eyes very bright.
There was a short silence. Then Mr. Comyn said, holding himself very erect: “I take your meaning, ma’am. I hope you will not live to regret this night’s work.”
Juliana gave a defiant laugh. “Regret it? Lord, why should I? You need not think you are the only gentleman who has done me the honour to solicit my hand in marriage.”
“You have played fast and loose with my affections, ma’am. I could laugh at myself for having been so taken in. To be sure, I should have known what to expect from a member of your family.”
By this time each was in a royal rage. Juliana flashed back at him: “How dare you sneer at my family? ’Pon rep, it is the greatest piece of impudence ever I heard! Perhaps you are not aware that my family consider you a Nobody?”
Mr. Comyn managed to keep his voice very level. “You are wrong, ma’am: I am well aware of it. But I was not aware until this moment that you would be guilty of the vulgarity of boasting of your noble connections. Allow me to point out to you that your manners would not be tolerated in my family.”