‘Pooh! You know what I mean. Had you no thought for the probable consequences when you committed that rash act?’
‘What do you mean by the probable consequences? At present they seem to me to consist in my having become better acquainted with Mr. Wellfield, and feeling considerable respect for him.’
‘Respect! respect for a Wellfield! I am astonished at you. You have become better acquainted with him; but not so well acquainted with him as your daughter.’
‘My daughter—you mean that Nita admires him—or that he is likely to fall in love with her?’
A fine sneer played about Miss Shuttleworth’s lips.
‘He is very likely to fall in love with Nita’s money. As for herself, no Wellfield ever cared for any person but his own.’
‘You are prejudiced, cousin, as we all know.’
‘Will you deny that when two people are thrown together as Nita and that young man are likely to be, it is probable that nothing will come of it on either side?’
‘It is not probable,’ he returned, quietly.
‘Do you mean to say that you will allow Nita to fall in love with him, and do nothing to prevent it?’