“I want you to understand that if she, Lady Cassandra, were free, I would give you back your promise at once! You would not have needed to ask me, I should have spoken myself; but if I set you free because you love a married woman, I am helping you to—sin! I won’t do it. You are engaged to me, and I shall keep you to your promise. It isn’t nice for a girl to have to force herself upon a man. If I didn’t love you I couldn’t do it, but I do love you, and I know that some day you will understand, and be grateful to me.”
She turned without allowing him time for a reply, and marched stiffly across the lawn towards the house.
Chapter Twenty Four.
The Chain Holds.
The next day Cassandra was still confined to bed. Grizel said that it would probably be some time before she was able to be about, and announced her own intention of acting as nurse, while her husband played golf with the Squire. So plain an intimation that visitors would be de trop went beyond a hint, and in truth Dane had already made up his mind to return home by the first possible train. That being so, it was obvious that Teresa must return with him, since it had been solely on his account that she had been invited at all. Peignton looked across the breakfast table around which the little party were seated, and Teresa met his eye, and said instantly as though she had been waiting for the sign:
“I think, Dane, it would be better if you and I went home this morning! I am afraid we can do nothing to help, and shall only be in the way. Could I have the carriage for the eleven o’clock train, Mrs Beverley?”
“I will come with you, of course,” Dane added, and Grizel shrugged her shoulders, and held out her hands with an eloquent little gesture of appeal.
“Dear people, it’s most inhospitable and horrid, but I think so too! I shan’t have a moment to spare. I expect we shall be rushing home ourselves by the end of the week.”