"Knew each other! Don't be so mealy-mouthed. I don't mean to be mealy-mouthed, I can tell you. You knew all about it. Adelaide had told you. You knew that we were engaged." "No," exclaimed Lady George; "she never told me that." "She did. I know she did. She confessed to me that she had told you so." "But what if she had?" "Of course he is nothing to you," said the young lady with a sneer. "Nothing at all;--nothing on earth. How dare you ask such a question? If Captain De Baron is engaged, I can't make him keep his engagements." "You can make him break them." "That is not true. I can make him do nothing of the kind. You have no right to talk to me in this way, Miss Mildmay." "Then I shall do it without a right. You have come between me and all my happiness." "You cannot know that I am a married woman," said Lady George, speaking half in innocence and half in anger, almost out of breath with confusion, "or you wouldn't speak like that." "Psha!" exclaimed Miss Mildmay. "It is nothing to me whether you are married or single. I care nothing though you have twenty lovers if you do not interfere with me." "It is a falsehood," said Lady George, who was now standing. "I have no lover. It is a wicked falsehood." "I care nothing for wickedness or falseness either. Will you promise me if I hold my tongue that you will have nothing further to say to Captain De Baron?" "No; I will promise nothing. I should be ashamed of myself to make such a promise." "Then I shall go to Lord George. I do not want to make mischief, but I am not going to be treated in this way. How would you like it? When I tell you that the man is engaged to me why cannot you leave him alone?" "I do leave him alone," said Mary, stamping her foot. "You do everything you can to cheat me of him. I shall tell Lord George."