"Yes," she replied, turning upon him fiercely. "What can you think
of me when you fight about me like a wild beast?"
"I am prepared to fight Lieutenant Whately on entirely different
grounds," he replied, his face flushing hotly at her words.
"You cannot do it, sir. I would know, and so would all, that I was
the cause. What right, sir, have you to imbitter my life, to fill my
days and nights with horror? I never wronged you."
"But, Miss Baron, in all ages such encounters have been common
enough when a man received ample provocation, as I have."
"So much the worse for the ages then. I say that you both were about
to commit a selfish, cowardly, unmanly act that would have been an
outrage in its cruelty to an innocent girl, to whom you had been
making false professions of regard."
"Now, by the God who made me, that's not true, Miss Baron."
"Cousin Lou, you are beside yourself," cried Whately.
"Miss Baron," said Maynard, coming to her side and speaking with
great earnestness, "I can endure any charge better than your last.
Pages:
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493