Page:The Fate of Fenella (1892).djvu/81

 Jacynth. "As it is, they fear there may be a duel."

"And you want me to mix myself up in all this unsavory business?" she exclaimed. "Really, Clitheroe, you are very unreasonable."

"I am very sorry for Lady Francis," he said, in a low voice.

"And I suppose you are in love with her. Nothing else could explain your strange persistency. You are very foolish, and you are wasting your time. If the woman cares for anyone, I suppose it is for her curly-headed attaché. It is evident that you are only being made use of, and I am certainly not going to follow your ridiculous example. Lady Francis possesses no possible interest for me. I consider her unladylike, wanting in savoir vivre and tact, and quite the last person for whom I could have any sympathy."

"She has been cruelly treated," said Jacynth.

"So have thousands of other women, but they manage to bear their cruel treatment and behave with better taste than Lady Francis."

"What am I to say to her?" said Clitheroe, almost angrily. "She is waiting in the garden. I told her that you would call upon her this afternoon."

"Then you took a very unwarrantable liberty," said his sister. "I will not call upon her. I should advise you to tell her to send De Mürger away at once."