d.i.c.k spoke to him again, but Glen did not hear his words in the anger that had taken possession of him. He had, against his will, allowed himself to be swayed by Clotilde, and carried on the clandestine correspondence that was repugnant to his frank nature; and now he blamed himself for his conduct.

"Look here, d.i.c.k," he cried at last, "we have been behaving like a couple of foolish boys ashamed of their feelings, and the consequence is we have been unable to take the part of those two when they have been urged to accept proposals by their aunts."

"Don't say _they_; it is only Clotilde."

"I'll wager it is Marie as well, my boy; else why did you get your note back?"

d.i.c.k looked staggered, and gazed in his friend's face.

"I say, you know, what are you going to do?" he said it last.

"Going straight to the private apartments to see the aunts. Come with me?"

"What, to meet the old dragons, and talk about it?"

"Yes, of course. It is cowardly to hold back."

"That's--er--a matter of opinion," said d.i.c.k, who looked uneasy. "I-- er--don't think it would be quite wise to go."

"As you like!" said Glen shortly; and before the boy could quite realise the position the door swung back heavily and his visitor was gone.

"Well," said d.i.c.k thoughtfully, "I could go through a good deal for Marie's sake, and would give a good deal to see her now, but face those two old Gorgons? No, not this time; I'd rather take a header into the Thames any day, and I don't believe Glen has gone, after all."

But he had gone straight to the private apartments, rung, and sent in his card to where the Honourable Misses Dymc.o.x were discussing preparations for the marriage, with their nieces in the room.

"Captain Glen!" exclaimed the Honourable Philippa, starting as she read the card; "so early! What can he want?"

Marie glanced at her sister, and saw that she looked flushed and excited; but as soon as Clotilde found that she was observed, she returned a fierce, defiant glance at Marie's inquisitive eyes.

"Had--hadn't we better say 'Not at home'?" whispered the Honourable Isabella.

"No: it would be cowardly," replied her sister. "Joseph, you can show up Captain Glen."

Clotilde rose and left the room, and Marie was following, but her aunt arrested her.

"No, my dear, I would rather you would stay," she exclaimed; and full of sympathy, but at the same time unable to control a sense of gladness at her heart, Marie resumed her seat just as Ruth entered the room.

The next moment Glen was shown in, and after the customary salutations and commonplace remarks asked for a few minutes' conversation with the ladies alone.

The Honourable Philippa was a good deal fluttered, but she preserved her dignity, and signed to Marie and Ruth to withdraw, the former darting a look full of meaning as she pa.s.sed Marcus, who hastened to open the door, the latter glancing up at him for a moment, and he smiled back in her face, which was full of sympathy for him in his pain.

Glen closed the door in the midst of a chilling silence, and returned to his seat facing the thin sisters, feeling that the task he had undertaken was anything but the most pleasant under the sun.

He was, however, too much stirred to hesitate, and he began in so downright a manner that he completely overset the balance--already tottering--of the Honourable Isabella, who felt so sympathetic that she was affected to tears.

"I wished to have a few minutes' conversation, ladies," he said, in rather a quick, peremptory tone, "respecting a question very near to my heart, and concerning my future happiness. Let me say, then, plainly, in what is meant to be a manly, straightforward fashion, that I love your niece Clotilde, and I have come to ask your consent to my being a constant visitor here."

The Honourable Isabella could not suppress it: a faint sigh struggled to her lips, and floated away upon the chilly air of that dismal room, like the precursor of the shower that trembled upon the lashes of her eyes.

"Captain Glen!" cried the Honourable Philippa, making an effort to overcome her own nervousness, and dreading a scene on the part of this downright young man, "you astound me!"

"I am very sorry I should take you so by surprise," he said quietly. "I hoped that you would have seen what my feelings were."

"Oh, indeed no!" cried the Honourable Philippa mendaciously, "nothing of the kind--did we, sister?"

The Honourable Isabella's hands shook a great deal, but she did not speak--only looked piteously at their visitor.

"Perhaps I ought to have made my feelings known sooner," said Glen.

"However, I have spoken now, Miss Dymc.o.x, and--"

"But, Captain Glen, pray spare us, and spare yourself what must be a very painful declaration, when I tell you that our niece is engaged to be married to Mr Elbraham."

"Then it is true?"

"Oh yes, perfectly true," said the Honourable Philippa.

Glen drew a long breath, and sat for some moments silently gazing down at the carpet as if he could not trust himself to speak. When he opened his lips again his voice was changed.

"Am I to understand, madam, that Miss Clotilde Dymc.o.x accepts this Mr-- Mr Elbraham of her own free choice and will?"

It required a tremendous effort to get out that name "Elbraham," but he forced it from his lips at last.

"Captain Glen," said the Honourable Philippa, rising and darting a very severe glance at her sister because she did not rise as well, "this is presuming upon your position here as an acquaintance--a very casual acquaintance. I cannot discuss this matter with you."

"As you will, madam," replied Glen, who felt hot with indignant rage.

"May I ask your permission to see Clotilde?"

"To see Miss Clotilde Dymc.o.x?" said the Honourable Philippa, with dignity. "Under the circ.u.mstances, I think, sister, certainly not."

She darted another fierce look at the Honourable Isabella, who was growing weaker and more agitated moment by moment, as she asked herself whether it was possible that, in spite of the disparity of their ages, she might yet try to soothe Marcus Glen's wounded spirit, and offer him the sympathy of her virgin heart.

"I ask it in justice to myself, madam," cried Glen, "for your niece--"

He was going to say more, but he checked himself, and bit his lips. "Of course, ladies, you would be present."

"Impossible!" said the Honourable Philippa grimly.

"Don't--don't you think, sister," faltered the Honourable Isabella, "that--that--Captain Glen might--might just see--just see Clotilde--for a few moments?"

"No!" said the Honourable Philippa, with quite a snap of her artificial teeth, and the Honourable Isabella seemed to shrink back into herself, quite dismayed by her sister's almost ferocious way.

"I thank you, Miss Isabella," said Glen, so warmly that the poor old lady's heart began to palpitate at an unwonted rate, and she trembled and her hands were agitated, as if she would gladly have laid them in their visitor's broad palms.--"You decline, then, to allow me to see Miss Clotilde?"

The Honourable Philippa bowed, and turned to her sister to see if she made as dignified a response to his appeal; but to her horror she saw her sister shaking her head violently as Glen now appealed to her in turn.

"Then, madam," cried Glen angrily, "I give you fair warning that I shall spare no pains to gain an interview with your niece, for I do not, I will not believe that this is honest. It cannot be, and I am certain that the poor girl has been forced into this engagement. Ladies, I will say no more, for I fear that if I do I shall lose my temper. Miss Dymc.o.x, good-morning. Miss Isabella, I thank you for your show of sympathy; good-bye."

He felt that there could be no excuse for a longer stay, and strode angrily from the room; but he had hardly reached the foot of the stairs before he became aware of the fact that Marie was coming out of the schoolroom, where Ruth was now alone and a witness of what pa.s.sed.