"I did not come here, sir, to bandy words; and I ended my mission by delivering the letter intrusted to me." "You regard me as a vindictive old bear?" "I had heard much of the Darringtons; I imagined a great deal more; but now, like the Queen of Sheba, I must testify--'Behold, the half was not told me.'" He threw back his lion-like head, and laughed. "That will do. Shake hands, child." "No, thank you." "And you will not sit down?" "Frankly, I prefer not. I long to get away." "You shall certainly be gratified, but there are a few things which I intend you shall hear. Of course you know that your mother was my only child, and an heiress; but you are ignorant probably of the fact that when she returned to boarding school for the last session, she was engaged in marriage to the son of my best friend--a man in every respect desirable, and thoroughly acceptable to me." "So my mother told me." "Indeed? She should blush to remember it. While she wore his engagement ring, she forgot her promise to him, her duty to me, her lineage, her birth, her position--and was inveigled by a low adventurer who--" "Who was my own precious father--poor, but noble, and worthy of any princess! Unless you can refer to him respectfully, name him not at all, in his child's presence." She suddenly towered over him, like some threatening fate, and her uplifted arm trembled from the intensity of her indignation. "At least--you are loyal to your tribe!" "I am, to my heart's core. You could pay me no higher compliment."