One of Our Conquerors - World eBook Library

George Meredith
‘Of course, I never left her.’
‘Give me a notion …’
‘To get her to make an appointment: to let him conduct
her home.’
‘She was alone?’
‘Her maid was below.’
‘And this happened …?’
‘Yesterday, after dark. My Ned—Captain Marsett encourages
him to be familiar. I should be the lowest of women if I
feared the threats of such a reptile of a man. I could tell you
more. I can’t always refuse his visits, though if Ned knew the
cur he is! Captain Marsett is easy-going.’
‘I should like to know where he lives.’
She went straight to the mantelpiece, and faced about with
a card, handing it, quite aware that it was a charge of powder.
Desperate things to be done excused the desperate said;
and especially they seemed a cover to the bald and often
spotty language leaping out of her, against her better taste,
when her temper was up.
‘Somewhere not very distant,’ said Dartrey perusing. ‘Is
he in the town to-day, do you know?’
‘I am not sure; he may be. Her name …’
‘Have no fear. Ladies’ names are safe.’
‘I am anxious that she may not be insulted again.’
‘Did she show herself conscious of it?’
‘She stopped speaking: she looked at the door. She may
come again—or never! through that man!’
‘You receive him, at his pleasure?’
‘Captain Marsett wishes me to. He is on his way home.
He calls Major Worrell my pet spite. All I want is; not to
hear of the man. I swear he came yesterday on the chance of
seeing—for he forced his way up past my servant; he must
have seen Miss Radnor’s maid below.’
‘You don’t mean, that he insulted her hearing?’
‘Oh! Captain Fenellan, you know the style.’
‘Well, I thank you,’ Dartrey said. ‘The young lady is the
daughter of my dearest friends. She’s one of the precious—
you’re quite right. Keep the tears back.’
‘I will.’ She heaved open-mouthed to get physical control
of the tide. ‘When you say that of her!—how can I help it?
It’s I fear, because I fear … and I’ve no right to expect ever
… but if I’m never again to look on that dear face, tell her I
305