"Lord Maudlaine presents his compliments to Lieutenant Norton, and begs
to say, that although Lieutenant Norton's behaviour has been such that
the meeting in such cases necessitated by wounded honour may seem
absolutely imperative, yet, feeling compassion for his youth and
inexperience, Lord Maudlaine is willing to forego the customary
arrangement on one condition--namely, that Lieutenant Norton immediately
quit Merland, and in no way, previous to his departure, trespass against
the wishes of Sir Murray Gernon."
"He will understand that," said his lordship, who, after many hours of
sheer hard work, contrived the above magnanimous epistle, and despatched
it by a special messenger to Merland Hall, where it was read by Brace,
with a quiet, scornful smile.
"When a man's fate leads him in one direction," he muttered, "it takes
something stronger than such a letter as that to turn him out of the
way."
The result was that Brace tore up the letter with an impatient "pish!"
and cast the fragments away, Lord Maudlaine the while nervously looking
for the reply that did not come, even when two days had elapsed, during
which time both Sir Murray and he learned that Isa had been seen twice
with Brace Norton, and the former angrily asked him how much longer he
intended "that boy" to stand in his way.
"I should have thought," said his lordship, sulkily, "that I might have
counted upon your help, and that you would, at least, have ordered Miss
Gernon to confine herself to the house."
"Did I not give you my reasons," said Sir Murray, angrily. "Any
coercion on my part would be snatched at by this Norton as an occasion
for persuading the silly child to fly with him. I had more faith in
you, Maudlaine; I thought that you would have striven harder to
undermine his influence, instead of which, you turned tail in her
presence--he struck you! I saw it all!"
"I struck him first," said his lordship, sulkily.
"Look here, Maudlaine," said Sir Murray, haughtily, "when I was a young
man such an insult would have been followed by something more than
words. You will stand and have her stolen from you."
"Perhaps this will go further yet," exclaimed the Viscount, firing up;
for the thought of losing the prize he had looked upon as gained stung
him to the quick, and without another word he hurried from the room,
leaving Sir Murray thoughtful and frowning as he recalled the past. At
times, though, his face softened, as the remembrance of Isa's gentle
features crossed his imagination, and he dwelt for awhile upon her
resemblance to her mother; but soon morose and bitter feelings
prevailed, and for no reason, save that it seemed an eligible match,
with a title, to which the name of Gernon would be allied, he cast aside
all thoughts of affection as childish, and determined to take some steps
himself for assisting his proposed son-in-law in his pretensions.
Book 2, Chapter XV.