“I know that you were to fight Mr. Vernon at eight o’clock this
morning, therefore I beguiled you here; for your life is dearer to me
than anything in heaven and earth; and I will not let you out until
that very hour, when it will be too late for you to get to Twickenham.
You will not dare to raise a commotion in the house at this hour,
which would ruin us both. But by the jeopardy in which I placed myself
this night, you will know how true is the love of
“_Arabella Stormont_.”
I confess that the reading of this letter made me a partizan of
Overton; for surely no more unhandsome trick was ever played upon a
gentleman.
There was nothing for it but to sit down and wait for eight o’clock.
Sir Peter’s family were late risers, and there was little danger of
detection at that hour. So we sat, and gazed at each other, mute before
the mystery of the good and evil in a woman’s love. I confess the
experience was new to me.
“You will bear me witness, Mr. Glyn,” said Overton, “that I am detained
here against my will; but I think it a piece of good fortune that you
are detained with me.”
“I will bear witness to nothing, sir,” I replied, “until you have
given me satisfaction for calling me a hound, just now.”
“Dear sir, pray forget that hasty expression. In my rage and amazement,
just now, I would have called the commander-in-chief of the forces a
hound. Pray accept every apology that a gentleman can make. I was quite
beside myself, as you must have seen.”
I saw that he was very anxious to conciliate me; for upon my
testimony alone would rest the question of whether he voluntarily
or involuntarily failed to appear at the meeting arranged for eight
o’clock.
I also perceived the strength of my position, and a dazzling idea
presented itself to my mind.
“I will agree,” said I, “to testify to everything in your favor, if you
will but promise me not to--not to--” I hesitated, ashamed to express
my womanish fears for Giles Vernon’s life; but he seemed to read my
thoughts.
“Do you mean, not to do Mr. Vernon any harm in the meeting which will,
of course, take place, the instant it can be arranged? That I promise
you; for I never had any personal animosity toward Mr. Vernon. His
blow, like my words just now, was the outburst of passion, and not a
deliberate insult.”
I was overjoyed at this; and as I sat, grinning in my delight, I must
have been in strong contrast to Overton, in the very blackness of rage.
The minutes dragged slowly on, and we heard the clock strike six and
seven. The dim light of a foggy morning stole in at the windows. Not
a soul was stirring in the house; but on the stroke of eight, a light
step fluttered near the outer door. It was softly unlocked, and Lady
Arabella entered, carefully locking the door on the inside, after her,
this time. In the ghostly half-light, Overton rose, and saluted her
with much ceremony.
“Lady Arabella Stormont,” he said, “you have delayed the meeting
between Mr. Vernon and myself just twenty-four hours. To do it, you
have put my honor in jeopardy, and that I shall not soon forget. I beg
you to open the glass door, and allow me to bid you farewell.”
She stopped, as if paralyzed for a moment, when I, knowing the key
to be in her pocket, deftly fished it out, and opened the door, and
Overton walked out. She could not stop me,--I was too quick for
her,--but she ran after me, and fetched me a box on the ear, which did
more than sting my cheek and my pride. It killed, in one single instant
of time, the boyish love I had had for her, ever since the first hour I
had seen her. I own I was afraid to retaliate as a gentleman should, by
kissing her violently; but dashing on, I sped down the steps outside,
after Overton, not caring to remain alone with the Lady Arabella. I saw
her no more that day, nor until the afternoon of the next day.