on, my dear Beatrice,' he answered at last, making a
strong effort over himself, 'except what I have already given you. I
hoped you would never recur to the subject.'

'Your explanation, however, is very far from satisfactory. I can only say
that the airs Miss Sarti thinks herself entitled to put on towards you,
are quite incompatible with your position as regards me. And her
behaviour to me is most insulting. I shall certainly not stay in the
house under such circumstances, and mamma must state the reasons to Sir
Christopher.'

'Beatrice,' said Captain Wybrow, his irritation giving way to alarm, 'I
beseech you to be patient, and exercise your good feelings in this
affair. It is very painful, I know, but I am sure you would be grieved to
injure poor Caterina--to bring down my uncle's anger upon her. Consider
what a poor little dependent thing she is.'

'It is very adroit of you to make these evasions, but do not suppose that
they deceive me. Miss Sarti would never dare to behave to you as she
does, if you had not flirted with her, or made love to her. I suppose she
considers your engagement to me a breach of faith to her. I am much
obliged to you, certainly, for making me Miss Sarti's rival. You have
told me a falsehood, Captain Wybrow.'

'Beatrice, I solemnly declare to you that Caterina is nothing more to me
than a girl I naturally feel kindly to--as a favourite of my uncle's, and
a nice little thing enough. I should be glad to see her married to Gilfil
to-morrow; that's a good proof that I'm not in love with her, I should
think. As to the past, I may have shown her little attentions, which she
has exaggerated and misinterpreted. What man is not liable to that sort
of thing?'

'But what can she found her behaviour on? What had she been saying to you
this morning to make her tremble and turn pale in that way?'

'O, I don't know. I just said something about her behaving peevishly.
With that Italian blood of hers, there's no knowing how she may take what
one says. She's a fierce little thing, though she seems so quiet
generally.'

'But she ought to be made to know how unbecoming and indelicate her
conduct is. For my part, I wonder Lady Cheverel has not noticed her short
answers and the airs she puts on.'

'Let me beg of you, Beatrice, not to hint anything of the kind to Lady
Cheverel. You must have observed how strict my aunt is. It never enters
her head that a girl can be in love with a man who has not made her