"Pho! it is anger! How long is this farce of yours to last, Miss Margaret? Will nobody but Rufus Gay and Andrew Davenport do to make up side actors for your serio-comic tomfooleries?"
"Bear with me a little longer," sighed the orphan, humbly. And then the executors went away.
The colonel with great reluctance also tore himself from the side of his charmer, and prepared to depart.
"We are quite good friends?" whispered my lady, with an arch glance into his eyes.
"My Julie will pity her poor slave in his new chains?" murmured back the colonel.
Margaret, waiting with beating pulses for his departure, heard with curling lip both question and answer.
A sly invitation to come often to see papa, followed from the lady, was chivalrously accepted by the gentleman, and her hand was once more caressed by way of farewell.
"Thanks for the pleasant surprise you have given me," said he, bending down to look into Margaret's face with an air of devilish exultation; "it was so delicately planned and so kindly meant that I shall not forget it in you. Good night."
She turned away her loathing face and bowed him out, and then came drearily up to my lady and looked at her.
"Is this man whom you met to-night changed from the man to whom you were engaged?"