“But she has concealed every thing from me,” cried Clarence; and, with a sudden impulse of indignation, he was going to summon her, but when his hand was upon the lock of the door he paused, returned to Virginia, and said, “Let me hear the truth from your lips: it is all I shall ever ask from you. How—when—where did you see this man?”
“What man?” said Virginia, looking up, with the simple expression of innocence in her countenance.
Clarence pointed to the picture.
“At the village in the New Forest, at Mrs. Smith’s house,” said Virginia, “one evening when I walked with her from my grandmother’s cottage.”
“And your grandmother knew of this?”
“Yes,” said Virginia, blushing, “and she was very much displeased.”
“And Mrs. Ormond knew of this?” pursued Clarence.
“Yes; but she told me that you would not be displeased at it.”
Mr. Hervey made another hasty step toward the door, but restraining his impetuous temper, he again stopped, and leaning ever the back of a chair, opposite to Virginia, waited in silence for her to proceed. He waited in vain.
“I do not mean to distress you, Miss Hartley,” said he.