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At this point, the conversation, which had been conducted with the appearance at least of formality, underwent a change. ‘I know to a day how old you are, so don’t talk nonsense to me!’ said his lordship impatiently. ‘A more ramshackle arrangement – ! Is your sister with you?’
‘No,’ said Miss Tresilian, eyeing him with hostility, ‘she is not! The indifferent state of her health –’
He gave a crack of sardonic laughter. ‘You needn’t tell me! Still suffering spasms and vapours to throw a rub in your way, is she?’
‘Pray, did you come here merely to discuss my sister’s constitution?’ demanded Miss Tresilian.
‘You know very well why I am here! This lamentable affair between your niece and my cousin – which you appear to have encouraged!’
‘I can assure you, however, that had I known of Mr Rosely’s relationship to you, sir, I should have done my utmost to discourage an affair which I dislike quite as much as you do!’
‘A pretty sort of guardian, not to have made it your business to enquire who were Arthur’s relations!’ he said scathingly.
‘And did you make it your business to acquaint yourself with all Lucy’s remote cousins?’ she retorted.
‘It was unnecessary. I knew her to be your niece, and that was enough! In plain words, I don’t wish for the connection, and shall do what I may to put an end to it. Don’t under-rate me! you’ll find I can do a great deal!’
‘Do rid your mind of the notion that the connection is any more welcome to me than it is to you!’ begged Miss Tresilian. ‘Nothing could be more repugnant to me than an alliance with any member of your family!’
‘So I should suppose – since you made it plain enough when you jilted me!’
‘If you mean by that that I terminated an unfortunate engagement which you were regretting quite as much as I –’
‘I didn’t come here to discuss ancient history!’ he interrupted roughly.
‘Well, if you came merely to inform me that you don’t wish your precious cousin to marry Lucy you’ve wasted your time!’ she countered.
‘Ah!’ instantly responded his lordship. ‘So you do support them, do you? I might have known it!’
She was about to repudiate this suggestion when it occurred to her that to do so would scarcely be in accordance with her promise to help her niece. It cost her a severe struggle, but she managed to summon up a smile, and to say with creditable composure: ‘Come! It won’t serve for us to rip up at each other, Iver. We may regret this business, but a twelve-year-old quarrel between us doesn’t constitute a bar to these children’s marriage.’
‘Have you told your niece?’
‘No – any more than you, I collect, have told your cousin! Much good would that do! They would say, and rightly, that it was no concern of theirs!’
‘Well, I won’t have it!’ he announced.
‘Now, don’t fly into a pelter!’ she begged. ‘Our differences apart, what is there to be said against the match? Nothing, I dare say, could be more suitable!’ She hesitated, and then added, with a little difficulty: ‘How odiously selfish we should be if we were to let them break their hearts only because we once quarrelled!’
His lips curled disdainfully. ‘Hearts are not so easily broken!’
‘No one knows that better than I!’ she retorted.
‘We need not, then, discuss such an absurdity.’
Realizing, too late, the infelicity of her retort, she tried to recover lost ground. ‘Neither of us is in a position to judge what may be the sufferings of two people who truly love one another! Lucy’s character is unlike mine: her affection is not easily won, and is by far more tenacious than mine.’
‘It could hardly be less!’ he interpolated. ‘Spare me any more moving speeches! She is young enough to recover from her disappointment, and will no doubt transfer her affections soon enough to some other, and, I trust, equally eligible suitor!’
Stung, she retaliated: ‘She might well do that!’
‘Oh, play off no airs for my edification!’ he said angrily. ‘You won’t hoax me into believing that you are not well aware that my cousin is one of the biggest prizes in the Matrimonial Mart! A feather in any girl’s cap!’
Rising hastily to her feet, she said: ‘If I have anything to say to it, he won’t be a feather in Lucy’s cap, and that, my lord, you may depend on!’
‘Thank you!’ he replied. ‘You have given me the assurance I sought, and I have nothing further to do here than to take my leave of you! Your obedient servant, ma’am!’
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