Page:Orley Farm (Serial Volume 11).pdf/20

6 he should hear her through her veil, she raised it. She was very pale, and there was a look of painful care, almost of agony, round her mouth. He had never seen her look so pale,—but he said to himself at the same time that he had never seen her look so beautiful.

'And to tell you the truth, Lady Mason, I was very glad to get it. You and I had better speak openly to each other about this;—had we not?'

'Oh, yes,' she said. And then there was a struggle within her not to tremble—a struggle that was only too evident. She was aware of this, and took her hand off the table.

'I vexed you because I did not see you at The Cleeve the other day.'

'Because I thought that you were angry with me.'

'And I was so.'

'Oh, Mr. Furnival!'

'Wait a moment, Lady Mason. I was angry;—or rather sorry and vexed to hear of that which I did not approve. But your letter has removed that feeling. I can now understand the manner in which this engagement was forced upon you; and I understand also—do I not?—that the engagement will not be carried out?'

She did not answer him immediately, and he began to fear that she repented of her purpose. 'Because,' said he, 'under no other circumstances could I'

'Stop, Mr. Furnival. Pray do not be severe with me.' And she looked at him with eyes which would almost have melted his wife,—and which he was quite unable to withstand. Had it been her wish, she might have made him promise to stand by her, even though she had persisted in her engagement.

'No, no; I will not be severe.'

'I do not wish to marry him,' she went on to say. 'I have resolved to tell him so. That was what I said in my letter.'

'Yes, yes.'

'I do not wish to marry him. I would not bring his gray hairs with sorrow to the grave—no, not to save myself from' And then, as she thought of that from which she desired to save herself, she trembled again, and was silent.

'It would create in men's minds such a strong impression against you, were you to marry him at this moment!'

'It is of him I am thinking;—of him and Lucius. Mr. Furnival, they might do their worst with me, if it were not for that thought. My boy!' And then she rose from her chair, and stood upright before him, as though she were going to do or say some terrible thing. He still kept his chair, for he was startled, and hardly knew what he would be about. That last exclamation had come from her almost with a shriek, and now her bosom was heaving as though