“Deb. How’s that?”
“I suppose it will answer,” said Deborah, in a discontented voice. “But I hate to sue for mercy!”
Mr Kennet shook some sand over the letter, read it through, and folded it, and reached for a wafer. “You’ll have your revenge on him presently, me darlin’, but till Wednesday we must keep him quiet, or it’s ruined all our fine plans will be.”
“Very well: send it!” said Deborah.
Chapter 10
When Mr Ravenscar received Mr Kennet’s letter, his emotions were very much what the writer had hoped they would be. He was not surprised that Miss Grantham should show signs of weakening. He had expected her to be thrown into a flutter by his brief communication, and he lost no time in giving a turn to the screw by sitting down to write a second curt note to her.
“Mr Ravenscar presents his compliments to Miss Grantham, and desires to inform her that no Compromise is in any way agreeable to him. He must beg her to make her decision within the next three days, at the end of which time he will consider himself free to act in a manner which he has reason to believe must cause Miss Grantham a great deal of embarrassment which he would be loath to inflict on any female, defenceless or otherwise.”
“There!” exclaimed Miss Grantham indignantly, when she read this unamiable communication. “I said I wished you would not call me a defenceless woman! I knew he would sneer at me.”
“He’ll not sneer for long,” promised Lucius Kennet.
“I will answer for that!” said Miss Grantham fiercely. “Only bring him here on Wednesday night.”