Even to this interview
the gods would at last give an end. The hour would pass, though,
alas, so slowly, and she could not expect that he should stand
there to be rated much after the accustomed time for feeding. "You
acknowledge that, and do you dare to say that I had no right to
tell my friends?"
There was a moment in which he thought it was almost a pity that he
had not married her. She was very beautiful in her present form,--
more beautiful he thought than ever. She was the niece of a Duke,
and certainly a very clever woman. He had not wanted money and why
shouldn't he have married her? As for hunting him,--that was a
matter of course. He was as much born and bred to be hunted as a
fox. He could not do it now as he had put too much power into the
hands of the Penwethers, but he almost wished that he had. "I never
intended it," he said.
"What did you intend? After what has occurred I suppose I have a
right to ask such a question. I have made a somewhat unpleasant
journey to-day, all alone, on purpose to ask that question. What
did you intend?" In his great annoyance he struck his shovel
angrily against the ground. "And I will not leave you till I get an
answer to the question. What did you intend, Lord Rufford?" There
was nothing for him but silence and a gradual progress back towards
the house.
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