Part 3 (1/2)
”Well?”
Minnie sighed.
”So what could I say?”
Minnie paused.
Mrs. Willoughby looked troubled.
”Kitty, I _wish_ you wouldn't look at me with that dreadful expression. You really make me feel quite frightened.”
”Minnie,” said the other, in a serious voice, ”do you really _love_ this man?”
”Love this man! why no, not particularly; but I _like_ him; that is, I think I do, or rather I thought I did; but really I'm so worried about all my troubles that I wish he had never come down after me. I don't see why he did, either. I didn't ask him to. I remember, now, I really felt quite embarra.s.sed when I saw him. I knew there would be trouble about it. And I wish you would take me back home. I hate Italy. Do, Kitty darling. But then--”
Minnie paused again.
”Well, Minnie dear, we certainly must contrive some plan to shake him off without hurting his feelings. It can't be thought of. There are a hundred objections. If the worst comes to the worst we can go back, as you say, to England.”
”I know; but then,” said Minnie, ”that's the very thing that I can't do--”
”Can't do what?”
”Go back to England.”
”Back to England! Why not? I don't know what you mean.”
”Well, you see, Kitty, that's the very thing I came to see you about.
This dreadful man--the Count, you know--has some wonderful way of finding out where I go; and he keeps all the time appearing and disappearing in the very strangest manner; and when I saw him on the roof of the Cathedral it really made me feel quite giddy. He is _so_ determined to win me that I'm afraid to look round. He takes the commonest civility as encouragement. And then, you know--there it is--I really can't go back to England.”
”What do you mean by that?”
”Why there's--a--a dreadful person there,” said Minnie, with an awful look in her eyes.
”A what?”
”A--person,” said Minnie.
”A man?”
Minnie nodded. ”Oh yes--of course. Really when one thinks of one's troubles it's enough to drive one distracted. This person is a man. I don't know why it is that I should be _so_ worried and _so_ distracted by men. I do _not_ like them, and I wish there were no such persons.”
”Another man!” said Mrs. Willoughby, in some surprise. ”Well, Minnie, you certainly--”
”Now don't, don't--not a word; I know all you're going to say, and I won't stand it;” and Minnie ran over to her sister and held her hand over her mouth.
”I won't say a word,” said Mrs. Willoughby, as soon as she had removed Minnie's hand; ”so begin.”
Minnie resumed her place on the sofa, and gave a long sigh.
”Well, you know, Kitty darling, it happened at Brighton last September. You were in Scotland then. I was with old Lady Shrewsbury, who is as blind as a bat--and where's the use of having a person to look after you when they're blind! You see, my horse ran away, and I think he must have gone ever so many miles, over railroad bridges and hedges and stone walls. I'm certain he jumped over a small cottage.