"Let me look over you," said he, leaning forward with his cheek close to hers.
She repulsed him, and placed herself in the corner of the sofa, where he was forced to be satisfied with watching her face. He saw her cheek glow, and her eye flash, whilst her brow contracted with repressed indignation, and she seemed on the point of tearing the letter in two. She did not, however, but dropped her hands in her lap, and sat for a minute looking upwards earnestly, as if trying to recall some past event, then frowned again. Her lover extended his hand towards her, and exclaimed—
"My dear Rosa, what is the matter, your looks quite frighten me—do let me see this letter."
"Take it," said she, "and see what intolerable impertinence is threatened me."
He read it attentively, then said—
"I am quite bewildered—completely mystified—what have you got to do with all this—and what does it mean?"
"Ah, you may well be astonished," she replied; "don't you see what is threatened? imagine me, a peer's daughter, dragged into the Assize Court as a witness in an action between Margaret Watson and Thomas Musgrove, for a breach of promise of marriage. Can you realise the scene? It would be novel and interesting, I think."
"Extremely so, and I do not see why you should mind it: you will, of course, be treated with all proper respect and consideration, and justice must be done. Don't make yourself unhappy about that."
"You are joking, Sir William; and I shall be angry presently."
"No, don't pray; I should not like that—but tell me how you happened to become the confidante of this charming Margaret; I did not know your friendship extended to the whole family."