Lottie scorned to deny what she had done. She was too proud and too rash to think that she was betraying herself by the acknowledgment. She met her father’s eye with involuntary defiance. “You would not listen to me,” she said, “and I could not bear it. It was a disgrace; it was humbling me to the dust. I warned him you were coming——” As she spoke she suddenly perceived all that was involved in the confession, and grew crimson-red, and then pale.
“So, miss,” said Polly, “you’re nicely caught. Keeping company all this time, and never to say a word to nobody; but if I were your pa, you shouldn’t be let off like that. Was it for nothing but a bit of fun you’ve been going on with the gentleman? That’s carrying it a deal too far, that is. And when your pa takes it in hand to bring him to the point, you ups and tells him, and frightens him away! I’d just like to know—and, Harry, I’d have you to ask her—what she means by it? What do you mean by it, miss? Do you mean to live on here for ever, and eat us out of house and home? If you won’t work for your living, nor do anything to get an ’usband, I’d just like to know what you mean to do?”
“Hold your tongue,” said her husband. “Let her alone. It is I that must speak. Lottie, is it really true that you have betrayed your father? You have separated yourself from me and put yourself on the side of a villain!”
“Mr. Ridsdale is not a villain,” said Lottie, passionately. “What has he done? He has done nothing that can give you any right to interfere with him. I told him, because I would not have him interfered with. He has done nothing wrong.”
“He has trifled with my child’s affections,” said the Captain. “He has filled our minds with false expectations. By Jove, he had better not come in the way of Harry Despard, if that’s how he means to behave. I’ll horsewhip the fellow—I’ll kill him; I’ll show him up, if he were twenty times the Dean’s nephew. And you, girl, what can anyone say to you—never thinking of your own interest, or of what’s to become of you, as Mrs. Despard says?”
“Her own interest!” cried Polly. “Oh, she’ll take care of herself, never fear. She knows you won’t turn her to the door, Harry. You’re too soft, and they knows it. They’ll hang upon you and eat up everything you have, till you have the courage to tell them as you won’t put up with it. Oh, you needn’t turn upon me, Miss Lottie. As long as there was a chance of a good ’usband I never said a word; but when you goes and throws your chance away out of wilful pride, then I’m bound to speak. Your poor pa has not a penny, and all that he has he wants for himself; and I want my house to myself, Harry; you always promised I was to have my house to myself. I don’t want none of your grown-up daughters, as think themselves a deal better than me. I think I will go out of my mind with Miss Lottie’s lessons, and Mr. Law’s lessons, and all the rest. I never would have married you—you know I shouldn’t—if I hadn’t thought as I was to have my house to myself.”
“My love,” said the Captain, deprecatingly, “you know it is not my fault. You know that if I could I would give you everything. I had very good reason to think——”
“Papa,” said Lottie, who had been standing by trembling, but less with fear than passionate disgust and anger, “do you agree in what she says?”
“Of course he agrees,” says Polly. “He hasn’t got any choice; he’s obliged to say the same as me. He promised me when I married him as you shouldn’t be long in my way. He told me as you was going to be married. One girl don’t like another girl for everlasting in her road; and you never took no trouble to make yourself agreeable, not even about the music. Harry, do you hear me? Speak up, and say the truth for once. Tell her if she goes on going against me and you, and all we do for her, like this, that you won’t have her here.”
“My child,” said the Captain, who, to do him justice, was by no means happy in his task, “you see me in a difficult position, a most difficult position. What can I say? Mrs. Despard is right. When I married it was my opinion that you, too, would soon make a happy and brilliant marriage. How far that influenced me I need not say. I thought you would be established yourself, and able to help your brother and—and even myself. I’m disappointed, I cannot deny it; and if you have now, instead of fulfilling my expectations, done your best, your very best, to balk——”