But she soon stopped that, for she saw her time was come to go, and avoid unpleasant explanations. She made a dart and secured the two letters. “Settle it among yourselves,” said she, wheeling round and bestowing this advice on the whole party; then shot a sharp arrow at the admiral as she fled: “If you must be a tool of Richard Bassett, don't be a tool and a dupe by halves. _He_ is in love with her too. Marry her to the blackguard, and then you will be sure to kill Sir Charles.” Having delivered this with such volubility that the words pattered out like a roll of musketry, she flounced out, with red cheeks and wet eyes, rushed down the stairs, and sprang into her carriage, whipped the ponies, and away at a pace that made the spectators stare. Mr. Oldfield muttered some excuses, and retired more sedately. All this set Bella Bruce trembling and weeping, and her father was some time before he could bring her to anything like composure. Her first words, when she could find breath, were, “He is innocent; he is unhappy. Oh, that I could fly to him!” “Innocent! What proof?” “That brave lady said so.” “Brave lady! A bold hussy. Most likely a friend of the woman Somerset, and a bird of the same feather. Sir Charles has done himself no good with me by sending such an emissary.” “No, papa; it was the lawyer brought her, and then her own good heart _made her burst out._ Ah! she is not like me: she has courage. What a noble thing courage is, especially in a woman!” “Pray did you hear the language of this noble lady?” “Every word nearly; and I shall never forget them. They were diamonds and pearls.” “Of the sort you can pick up at Billingsgate.” “Ah, papa, she pleaded for _him_ as I cannot plead, and yet I love him. It was true eloquence. Oh, how she made me shudder! Only think: he had a fit, and lost his reason, and all for me. What shall I do? What shall I do?” This brought on a fit of weeping. Her father pitied her, and gave her a crumb of sympathy: said he was sorry for Sir Charles. “But,” said he, recovering his resolution, “it cannot be helped. He must expiate his vices, like other men. Do, pray, pluck up a little spirit and sense. Now try and keep to the point. This woman came from him; and you say you heard her language, and admire it. Quote me some of it.” “She said he fell down as black as his hat, and his eyes rolled, and his poor teeth gnashed, and--oh, my darling! my darling! oh! oh! oh!” “There--there--I mean about other things.” Bella complied, but with a running accompaniment of the sweetest little sobs. “She said I must be very green, to swallow an anonymous letter like spring water. Oh! oh!” “Green? There was a word!” “Oh! oh! But it is the right word. You can't mend it. Try, and you will see you can't. Of course I was green. Oh! And she said every gentleman who can afford to keep a saddle-horse has a female friend, till his banns are called in church. Oh! oh!” “A pretty statement to come to your ears!”