Page:In a winter city, by Ouida.djvu/303

 now—and then you'll turn round on him some fine morning and say you've had enough of it. At least, I can't see what else you will do—since you cannot marry him, You'll hardly lower yourself to Mila's level and all the other women's—by heavens, if I thought you would, if I thought you had done, I'd soon see if this fellow were as fine a swordsman as they say!"

Lady Hilda turned her face full on him.

"So my brother is the first person that ever dared to insult me?" she said, with utmost coldness, as she rose from the breakfast table and swept his feet in passing with the lace that fringed the hem of her cashmere robes.

She gave him one parting look, and left the chamber.

He stood cowed by the golden fire of those superb imperious hazel eyes. He was nervous at what he had done, and unhappy and perplexed. He stood alone, pulling at his fair beard, in troubled repentance. He knew what her wrath would be. She was not a woman who quickly forgave.

"I've blundered; I always do blunder," he