He saw quite plainly, despite their seeming nonchalance, that the announcement would not wait, hence his haste.
Royall Sherwood gave a start of dramatic surprise; his cousin groaned:
“Good heavens!”
Daisie, shrinking into the shadow of the vines, waited for her lover to explain the situation.
He resumed sarcastically:
“You seem surprised, Mrs. Fleming, and yet you should not be. You knew quite well that I was Miss Bell’s lover, though I was foolish enough to be frightened off that day when you came to her house and found us together. Well, I repented my haste, returned to-night, and sought an explanation. All is satisfactory, and we will soon be married.”
“’Sh-h!” almost hissed Royall Sherwood, while Mrs. Fleming added:
“This is terrible—terrible!”
“Why is it terrible, madam?” demanded Daisie, with sudden fire; and as the little widow looked at the handsome, spirited couple before her, she longed to strike them dead at her feet because of their love for each other.
But at least she had an awful dart for their hearts—an arrow tipped with deadly poison—so, throwing a baleful glance at both, she answered venomously: