Part 17 (1/2)
”I aht,” said Mademoiselle ”It is a luxury my family has not been allowed for o, and a brave one too, and that you have changed him, and I warn you to leave him alone in the future You do not know hi about the paper is a passing phase, and that you must not disturb hih you are not to blame You must leave him to me That is all”
”It pains ests,” I said
”You rily
”I mean I will not,” I answered with sudden heat, ”No,” I added more harshly, as she attempted to interrupt, ”Now you will listen to ainst him Perhaps not, Madeerous situation through no fault of your own, and whether you wish it or not, I ah, Made to be the end By heaven, if he looks at you again--”
”But you said--” she interrupted
I did not have the chance to continue, for a hand was trying the latch of the door, and then a sharp knock interruptedon the threshold With a smile and a nod to me, he entered, and proceeded to the center of the rooain If he noticed my action, he did not choose to comment Instead, he continued towards the chair where Madeet along more pleasantly, you and my son,”
he observed ”Surely he has points in his favor--youth, candor, even a certain a You have been hard on him, Made”
”So you have been listening,” she said
”As doubtless Mademoiselle expected,” said my father ”I had hoped--”
”And so had I,” I said
He turned and facedht enter here, and leave your servant somewhere else I have wanted to have a quiet talk with you thisunusual in my request, he did not show it, not so much as by a flicker of an eyelash
”It has hardly been opportune for conversation,” he adone He is out to receive a , which can hardly be delivered at the front door You were saying--Doubtless Mademoiselle will pardon us--”
”Mademoiselle,” I went on, ”will even be interested I have wanted to speak to you so that I ht explain myself Since I have been here I fear I have been impulsive You rave assent
”You ”
”And yet I a I am twenty-three”
”Can it be possible?” exclaiotten that I was so near the grave”
”I came to see you here,” I continued, ”because, as my uncle said, you are ht--” I paused and drew a deep breath, and my father smiled
”Why I came is aside froreed my father, ”and have we not been over the matter before?”
”If you had accorded ht have been different,”
I continued; ”but instead, sir, you have seen fit to jest It is not what you have done this , sir, as much as your manner towards ht a lady from France and robbed her, that you have robbed my uncle, and have threatened to fire on the town--somehow they seem no particular affair of mine except for this: You see to hinder you, and frankly, sir, this hurtsto sit by passively and watch you”
I came a step nearer, but he did not draw back He only continued watching e into soain, but that was all