Part 42 (2/2)
Side by side, at a somewhat quick pace, Miss Arden with a heightened colour, and Lord Wynderbroke with his ears tingling, rejoined their friends.
”Well, my dear child,” said Uncle David, with a laugh, ”if you have nothing worse to complain of, though I am very glad to see you, I think we might have put off our meeting till daylight.”
”Oh! but you have not heard half what has happened. He has behaved in the most cowardly, treacherous, ungentlemanlike way,” she continued vehemently. ”Papa sent for me, and I never saw him so angry in my life.
Lord Wynderbroke has been making his unmanly complaints to him, and papa spoke so violently. And _he_, instead of going away, having had from me the answer which nothing on earth shall ever induce me to change, _he_ remains here; and actually had the audacity to tell me, very nearly in so many words, that my decision went for nothing. I spoke to him quite frankly, but said nothing that was at all rude--nothing that could have made him the least angry. I implored of him to believe me that I never could change my mind; and I could not help crying, I was so agitated and wretched. But he seemed very much vexed, and simply said that he placed himself entirely in papa's hands. In fact, I've been utterly miserable and terrified, and I do not know how I can endure those terrible scenes with papa. The whole thing has come upon me so suddenly. Could you have imagined any gentleman capable of acting like Lord Wynderbroke--so selfish, cruel, and dastardly?” and with these words she burst into tears.
”Do you mean to say that he won't take your refusal?” said her uncle, looking very angry.
”That is what he says,” she sobbed. ”He had an opportunity only for a few words, and that was the purport of them; and I was so astounded, I could not reply; and, instead of going away, he remains here. Papa and he have arranged to prolong his visit; so I shall be teased and frightened, and I am so nervous and agitated; and it is such an outrage!”
”Now, we must not lose our heads, my dear child; we must consult calmly.
It seems you don't think it possible that you may come to like Lord Wynderbroke sufficiently to marry him.”
”I would rather _die_! If this goes on, I sha'n't stay here. I'd go and be a governess rather.”
”I think you might give my house a trial first,” said Uncle David merrily; ”but it is time to talk about that by-and-by. What does May Penrose think of it? She sometimes, I believe, on an emergency, lights on a sensible suggestion.”
”She had to return to town with Lady Mary, who dined here also; I did not know she was going until a few minutes before they left. I've been so _miserably_ unlucky! and I could not make an opportunity without its seeming so rude to Lady Mary, and I don't know her well enough to tell her; and, you have no idea, papa is so incensed, and so peremptory; and what _am_ I to do? Oh! dear uncle, think of something. I know you'll help me.”
”That I will,” said the old gentleman. ”But allowances are to be made for a poor old devil so much in love as Lord Wynderbroke.”
”I don't think he likes me now--he can't like me,” said Alice. ”But he is angry. It is simply pride and vanity. From something papa said, I am sure of it, Lord Wynderbroke has been telling his friends, and speaking, I fancy, as if everything was arranged, and he never antic.i.p.ated that I could have any mind of my own; and I suppose he thinks he would be laughed at, and so I am to undergo a persecution, and he won't hear of anything but what he pleases; and papa is determined to accomplish it.
And, oh! what _am_ I to do?”
”I'll tell you, but you must do exactly as I bid you. Who's there?” he said suddenly, as Alice's maid opened the door.
”Oh! I beg pardon--Miss Alice, please,” she said, dropping a curtsey and drawing back.
”Don't go,” said Uncle David, ”we shall want you. What's the matter?”
”Sir Reginald has been took bad with his foot again, please, Miss.”
”Nothing serious?” said Uncle David.
”Only pain, please, Sir, in the same place.”
”All the better it should fix itself well in his foot. You need not be uneasy about it, Alice. You and your maid must be in my cab, which is at the hall door, in five minutes. Take leave of no one, and don't waste time over finery; just put a few things up, and take your dressing-case; and you and your maid are coming to town with me. Is my brother in the drawing-room?”
”No, Sir, please; he is in his own room.”
”Are the gentlemen who dined still here?”
”Two left, Sir, when Sir Reginald took ill; but Lord Wynderbroke remains.”
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