There was so much coldness and selfishness in his words, so little sympathy or interest in his voice, that I looked at him with astonishment. Was this the bland, soft-toned old gentleman whom I had heard talking with such benign pity and charity for all mankind, and who now had apparently not one syllable of compassion or reproach for the heartless marring of a young girl’s life? I was so angry with him for the manner in which he had received my communication, that I did not care what I said. ‘Then I will tell you, sir,’ I went on hotly. ‘The reason I have troubled you with an account of my sufferings at Mr. Charteris’s hands, is because I have every reason to believe that he is carrying on the same game with your daughter Ange.’ Mr. Lovett stopped short in his walk, and, leaning on his stick, turned round and regarded me fully. I can recall the cold light in his blue eyes, and the fixed look of his marble features as he did so, to this day. ‘What proofs have you to advance for the truth of what you say?’ he demanded, in the most frigid tones. ‘I was sitting at my bedroom window last night when they met in the courtyard. I could not help overhearing their conversation, and I am quite convinced that he is persuading Ange to love him. I lay awake all night, thinking what was best for me to do; and I decided that, at all events, you ought to be told of what is going on between them.’ ‘You lay awake all night, you mean, plotting how you might best destroy an innocent young girl’s happiness, in revenge for having missed your own.’ ‘Oh, Mr. Lovett!’ I cried, horrified at the interpretation he had put upon my words. ‘How can you think so! I love Ange dearly: I would do anything to secure her happiness; and as for my own, it is very long since it was connected with Cave Charteris. I believe him to be neither good nor true. I do not consider he is capable of making any girl happy; and all I beg of you is to watch over Ange, and to see he does not teach her what is wrong. If he is an honourable suitor, why should he not make known his wishes concerning her to you?’ ‘I am not prepared to discuss such delicate questions with a young lady, and one who evidently bears no goodwill towards the supposed offender. You seem to have overlooked one thing, Miss Marsh, in mentioning Mr. Charteris: and that is, that you were speaking of a friend of mine.’ ‘Is it possible you are going to take his part against your own child!’ I exclaimed, in amazement. ‘I have yet to be convinced that I _am_ taking it against my own child. All the information I have received has come through a woman who, by her own account, has every motive for jealousy, and is an eavesdropper into the bargain.’