Part 3 (1/2)
Now Ba.s.sett had pondered well what he should say, but he was disconcerted by her superb presence and demeanor and her large gray eyes, that rested steadily upon his face.
However, he began to murmur mellifluously. Said he had often seen her in public, and admired her, and desired to make her acquaintance, etc., etc.
”Then why did you not ask Sir Charles to bring you here?” said Miss Somerset, abruptly, and searching him with her eyes, that were not to say bold, but singularly brave, and examiners pointblank.
”I am not on good terms with Sir Charles. He holds the estates that ought to be mine; and now he has robbed me of my love. He is the last man in the world I would ask a favor of.”
”You came here to abuse him behind his back, eh?” asked the lady with undisguised contempt.
Ba.s.sett winced, but kept his temper. ”No, Miss Somerset; but you seem to think I ought to have come to you through Sir Charles. I would not enter your house if I did not feel sure I shall not meet him here.”
Miss Somerset looked rather puzzled. ”Sir Charles does not come here every day, but he comes now and then, and he is always welcome.”
”You surprise me.”
”Thank you. Now some of my gentlemen friends think it is a wonder he does not come every minute.”
”You mistake me. What surprises me is that you are such good friends under the circ.u.mstances.”
”Circ.u.mstances! what circ.u.mstances?”
”Oh, you know. You are in his confidence, I presume?”--this rather satirically. So the lady answered, defiantly:
”Yes, I am; he knows I can hold my tongue, so he tells me things he tells n.o.body else.”
”Then, if you are in his confidence, you know he is about to be married.”
”Married! Sir Charles married!”
”In three weeks.”
”It's a lie! You get out of my house this moment!”
Mr. Ba.s.sett colored at this insult. He rose from his seat with some little dignity, made her a low bow, and retired. But her blood was up: she made a wonderful rush, sweeping down a chair with her dress as she went, and caught him at the door, clutched him by the shoulder and half dragged him back, and made him sit down again, while she stood opposite him, with the knuckles of one hand resting on the table.
”Now,” said she, panting, ”you look me in the face and say that again.”
”Excuse me; you punish me too severely for telling the truth.”
”Well, I beg your pardon--there. Now tell me--this instant. Can't you speak, man?” And her knuckles drummed the table.
”He is to be married in three weeks.”
”Oh! Who to?”
”A young lady I love.”