“Upon my word! I believe you know very well what I mean. Don’t you know which way the girl is drifting? If you do not, it is time you opened your eyes!” “Matthew,” said the earl, drawing himself up proudly, and looking his grandson straight in the face, “I will not profess to misunderstand you. You are speaking, or thinking, of Percy Maitland. I am only sorry that he is not of gentle blood; for I tell you frankly, were he so, I should not hesitate an instant to bestow upon him Cordelia’s hand, provided they both wished it.” “Which means, I suppose, that you would not give that hand to me?” “If you will have it, boy, I answer you just as frankly, yes.” “By --! I begin to understand you!” the young lord exclaimed, prefacing the words with an imprecation the like of which had not been uttered in the earl’s presence for years. “And let me tell you, old man--” “Hush! Oh, boy! boy! have you no heart?” “-- --!” Another oath, and then, “You treat me as though I had none. I approach my gentle Lady Cordelia; and she receives me as though I were infected. I ask her if she will be my wife, and she almost spits on me.” “Ah! Then you have spoken with her?” “Yes; this very morning. It was her treatment of me that took away my appetite for an earlier breakfast. If I had been a pariah, she could not have treated me more contemptuously. A fine home-coming, truly!” “Matthew,” said the old man, rising as he spoke, and gazing upon his grandson with mingled feelings of sadness and indignation, “I have but a few words to say, and those I speak to you from my heart though you may try to think otherwise. For the refusal of Cordelia, and for any harsh words she may have spoken, you have yourself to thank. If you spoke to her as you have spoken to me I wonder not that she took quick offense.” “And how, if I may ask, have I spoken to your lordship?” “The tone in which you now speak is enough for answer. Add to that the gross profanity which fell from your lips but a few moments since, and the measure of my endurance is reached. Oh, boy! boy! why will you do so? You do not know how I could have loved you, had you but allowed me to do it. For the love of Heaven! will you not try to do differently? Who shall say what might have been had you been pure and good?” “Which is equivalent to saying, if I understand the king’s English, that I am not pure and good?” “Neither pure, nor good, nor truthful, Matthew! Alas! that I should live to say it, and that you should live to deserve it.” “Thanks! Many, many thanks, dear grandpapa! You’ll excuse me if I go out and get a bit of fresh air after this.” And, thus speaking the wretch turned away, with a sneer on his lips and a look of defiance in his eyes, and left the room. And the aged grandsire, when the distant door had been closed and he was left alone, sank into a seat, and burst into tears. And so, a little later, Cordelia found him. -------