‘I thought it best to have Lady Eliza’s permission before doing anything further. I was right, was I not, sir?’
‘You acted in a most gentlemanly manner.’
‘I went to Morphie. Lady Eliza was cool with me, I thought. I confess I expected she would have shown some—some——’
‘Some gratification—surely,’ finished Barclay.
‘I took my father’s letter with me, and unfortunately, I had also one in my pocket from my mother. It was not quite like my father’s in tone; in fact, I am afraid it was written under considerable—excitement. I think she had some other plan in her mind for me. At any rate I took it out, mistaking it for the other, and gave it to her ladyship to read. Mr. Barclay, it was terrible.’
The lawyer was too anxious to stand well with his companion to venture a smile.
‘Tut, tut, tut, tut!’ he said, clicking his tongue against his teeth.
‘My only comfort is that she promised to say nothing to Miss Raeburn; I sincerely trust she may keep her word. I am almost afraid she may write to my mother, and I really do not know what might happen if she did. That is what I dread, and she is capable of it.’
‘She is an old termagant,’ said the other.
‘But what am I to do? What can I do?’