'Oh, I am infinitely obliged to Lady Julia for her opinion of me, of course,' said Bella, cresting up her beautiful head; 'but what has she said of me?'
'That you are the greatest flirt in Hampshire, and that, young as you are, you have flirted with every man that came near you.'
'I think you must know more of me than she does, and may know how much of all this is true; but she told me the same of you, and even more, and that she could not get you off to your regiment soon enough.'
'Why?' asked Jerry, with surprise.
'Because of a tendresse for her own maid; and that you have been making love to every woman and girl since. But all this gossip does not concern me, so let the conversation end. You came to bid me good-bye?'
'Yes,' said Jerry, in a hard tone.
'Had you not better bid papa good-bye too? I think I heard him come in.'
She put her hand upon the bell.
'Stay one moment—stay!' he said, imploringly.
She looked down and played nervously with the silver bangles on her wrists, some of them the gift of Jerry in happier moments.