Part 49 (1/2)
”A fact.”
”Facts are sometimes very unpleasant.”
”I hope the fact I want you to face isn't exactly that--if it is ...
then I'm ... a jolly miserable chap. Miss Morton--Meg--you must see how it is with me--you must know that you're dearer to me than anything on earth. I think your father tumbled to it--and I don't think he minded ... that I should want you for my wife.”
”My poor little papa would be relieved to think that anyone could....”
”Could what?”
”Care for me ... in that way.”
”Nonsense! But I'm exceedingly glad to have met your father.”
”Why?”
”Because I wanted to meet him.”
”Again, why?”
”Because he's your father.”
”Did you observe that Miss Lotty Trent cut you dead at the Queen's to-day?”
”I did notice it, and, like you, I wonder why.”
”I can tell you.”
”I don't think you'd better bother. Miss Trent's opinion of me really doesn't matter----”
”It was because you were with me.”
”But what a silly reason--if it is a reason.”
”Captain Middleton, will you answer a question quite truthfully?”
”I'll try.”
”What have you heard about me in connection with the Trents?”
”Not much, and that I don't believe.”
”But you must believe it, some of it. It may not be so bad--as it might have been--but I put myself entirely in the wrong. I deceived Mrs. Trent and I did a thing no girl in her senses ought to have done.”
”Look here, Meg,” said Miles, leaning forward. ”I don't want to know anything you don't choose to tell me; but since you _are_ on the subject--what did happen between you and that ... and Walter Brooke?”
Meg, too, leant forward; the express swayed and lurched. Their faces were very near; their eyes met and held each other in a long, searching gaze on the one side and an answering look of absolute candour on the other.
”I promised to go away with him, and I went away a few miles, and something came over me that I couldn't go any further, and I broke my promise and ran away. Jan knows it's true, for it was to them I went.