“And who under the sun are you to tell me what I may do and what I mayn’t, what you’ll let me do?,” he asked. “There are moments, my dear Lane, when you make me impatient. I don’t butt into your private affairs—”
“As I told you once before, Ivy’s a friend of mine,” Eric answered, tipping his chair back.
“And of mine. You were very much concerned to find out whether we were engaged to be married; and, though it’s no more your business now than it was then, I may tell you that we are.”
Eric shook his head slowly:
“She’s been trying to cure you of that delusion for some days. I understand you did once give her a promise, but that was for your own ends. And I understand you’ve offered it again, no doubt again for your own ends. But when a girl’s been seduced and deserted and left with a baby—”
“You damned liar!”
Gaymer jumped up and stood threateningly over Eric.
“It’s no use getting abusive! Perhaps I ought to have said that she was going to have a baby, but that now she won’t. She may die, though; and, in that case, Gaymer, nothing in heaven or earth is going to save you; I shall honour you with my undivided attention. If she pulls through, we shall not require to see or hear anything more of you.”
“You damned liar!,” Gaymer repeated; but his voice had fallen to a whisper, and Eric discovered with nicely blended surprise and rage that the incredulity was unassumed.
“Don’t go on saying that! These things do happen, you know.”