“But suppose he is not to be won—suppose you fail in what you have sworn to accomplish by fair means or foul?” whispered something within, with such startling distinctness that it almost seemed like a human voice.
“If I fail!” she repeated, growing white to her very lips. “If I cannot win the man whom I love with my whole soul, then”—and there was a look of wretchedness, almost of despair, in her midnight eyes at the thought—“then I will marry some poor fool who shall lose his head over my pretty face, and be lady somebody else.”
CHAPTER XXXVII.
THE MOCK MARRIAGE.
When Lady Sherbrooke informed her son that she had invited Mr. Richards and his family to spend the following week with them at their country residence, and to help them make merry with a number of their friends, his face had clouded instantly, and she saw that he was not pleased with the arrangement.
“Have I done anything wrong, Archie?” she asked, much disturbed. “I thought you would be pleased. They spoke of your spending several days with them when you were in America, and I supposed you would be glad to return the civility.”
His lips had curled slightly when she had mentioned that they had told of his visit to Yonkers. He thought they should have preferred to keep it to themselves, rather than boast of it in order to get a return, under the circumstances.
But he said nothing of this, and answered, as brightly as he could:
“No, mother dear; you have done nothing wrong, and I will try and make myself as agreeable as possible to your guests. But I must confess that neither Mrs. nor Miss Richards is agreeable to me.”
“Why, Archie?”
“I would prefer to say nothing more just now, since they are coming to visit us. Perhaps sometime I can tell you why,” he answered, thoughtfully.