Howard's heart told him what was coming, and he resolved to summon his courage and speak openly on this occasion.
"You know, Howard," said the young peer in a tone between remonstrance and complaint, "I never made any secret to you of my wishes and hopes with regard to Emma Watson—you have long known that nothing but circumstances prevented my addressing her and asking her hand."
"I know it, my Lord," replied Howard.
"Well then, I must say I look upon it as neither kind nor honorable of you to cut me out, or at least try to do so, for until she convinces me, I will not believe you have quite succeeded. But you should not have used me so, when I had been quite open with you."
His companion was embarrassed; for the total absence of self-confidence, which formed a prominent part of his character, made it very hard for him to publish his love whilst his prospects were uncertain.
"Tell me," continued Lord Osborne with some warmth, "do you not yourself love Emma Watson? Have you not sought to supplant me?"
"I will not deny that I do love her,—but I trust the acknowledgement will be safe with you—I own I love her—have loved her long—did love her well when you told me your own views, my Lord, and in fact have loved her ever since our first meeting in the assembly rooms."
"And why was I not told of this when I mentioned my plans to you—why allow me to form false hopes, whilst you were undermining the ground on which I stood?"
"You are unjust to me, my Lord, you speak as if I had tried to injure you, or prejudice her against you. Had I not a right to love her—have I not a right to win her if I can? Though I am but a poor parson and you are a peer, surely she is the only one to decide whether my addresses may not be acceptable to her. I have never attempted to thwart your success, nor have I ever made Emma a declaration of my own attachment. But I have as good a right to do so as yourself."
"I did not mean to call your rights in question at all, Mr. Howard; what I quarrel with is, your want of openness in not letting me know that I had a rival in you. Had you done so, I should have had no cause to complain."