“Oh yes, sir; but we have quarrelled.”
“I need not ask, madam, on whose side the fault lay.”
“Indeed, sir, he has used me cruelly, though I would tell this to no one but you.”
“Could you oblige me with this person’s name, madam?”
“Oh no, sir!” I went cold all in a moment at the thought that the Captain might seek out Mr Fraser and fight him, perhaps kill him. “I was over hasty. The blame was certainly in great part mine. The gentleman sought to test my sentiments for him by means of a fantastic device out of a novel, and I, not knowing his expedient, believed him false to me. Then, when next we met, he failed to express the contrition I fancied was called for, and I stood upon my punctilio, and refused to forgive him without it, whereupon he went away in a rage. You see that I am at least as much to blame as he.”
“No, madam; I see that the puppy has a stouter defender than he deserves, that’s all. But pardon my speaking so of one dear to Miss Freyne. You anticipate that this person will return to you?”
“No, sir, I have not the slightest cause for thinking so. My reason for mentioning the matter at all was a desire to deal fairly by you. I esteem you as the best person in the world, next to my papa, and with Heaven’s help I’ll do my best to make you a dutiful and, I hope, an obliging wife, but I can’t delude you into believing that Sylvia Freyne has still a heart to be won.”
“Do you know, madam, that you are placing me in a most cruel situation?”
“Dear sir, forgive me. I am a sad selfish creature, I fear.”
“My own heart, madam, would prompt me at once to leave you free, but such a course would only expose you the more to the tongues of the injurious busy-bodies of this place, as would your rejection of my proposals.”