scarce tell you
how I should resent them; but my hands are tied. I have so much
gratitude to you, without talking of the love I bear your sister, that
you insult me, when you do so, under the cover of a complete impunity. I
must feel the pain--and I do feel it acutely--I can do nothing to
protect myself."

He had been anxious enough to interrupt me in the beginning; but now,
and after I had ceased, he stood a long while silent.

"St. Ives," he said at last, "I think I had better go away. This has
been very irritating. I never at all meant to say anything of the kind,
and I apologise to you. I have all the esteem for you that one gentleman
should have for another. I only meant to tell you--to show you what had
influenced my mind; and that, in short, the thing was impossible. One
thing you may be sure of: _I_ shall do nothing against you. Will you
shake hands before I go away?" he blurted out.

"Yes," said I, "I agree with you--the interview has been irritating. Let
bygones be bygones. Good-bye, Ronald."

"Good-bye, St. Ives!" he returned. "I'm heartily sorry."

And with that he was gone.

The windows of my own sitting-room looked towards the north; but the
entrance passage drew its light from the direction of the square. Hence
I was able to observe Ronald's departure, his very disheartened gait,
and the fact that he was joined, about half-way, by no less a man than
Major Chevenix. At this, I could scarce keep from smiling; so
unpalatable an interview must be before the pair of them, and I could
hear their voices, clashing like crossed swords, in that eternal
antiphony of "I told you," and "I told you not." Without doubt, they had
gained very little by their visit; but then I had gained less than
nothing, and had been bitterly dispirited into the bargain. Ronald had
stuck to his guns and refused me to the last. It was no news; but, on
the other hand, it could not be contorted into good news. I was now
certain that during my temporary absence in France, all irons would be
put into the fire, and the world turned upside down, to make Flora
disown the obtrusive Frenchman and accept Chevenix. Without doubt she
would resist these instances: but the thought of them did not please me,
and I felt she should be warned and prepared for the battle.

It was no use to try and see her now, but I promised myself early that
evening to return to Swanston. In the meantime I had to make all my
preparations, and look the coming journe