“Never mind,” said the colonel; “I
will go the other way.”
The moment he was out of sight, Beeves opened the
garden-door, and began gesticulating like a madman,
fully persuaded that the doctor would make his escape.
But so far from being prepared to run away, Harry had
come there with the express intention of forcing a
conference. So that when the colonel made his
appearance on the terrace, the culprits walked slowly
towards him. He went to meet them with long military
strides, and was the first to speak.
“Mr. Armstrong, to what am I to attribute this
intrusion?”
“Chiefly to the desire of seeing you, Colonel
Cathcart.”
“And I find you with my daughter!—Adela,
go in-doors,”
Adela withdrew at once.
“You denied yourself, and I inquired for Miss
Cathcart.”
“You will oblige me by not calling again.”
“Surely I have committed no fault beyond forgiveness.”
“You have taken advantage of your admission
into my family to entrap the affections of my daughter.”
“Colonel Cathcart, as far as my conscience tells
me, I have not behaved unworthily.”
“Sir, is it not unworthy of a gentleman to use
such professional advantages to gain the favour of
one who—you will excuse me for reminding
you of what you will not allow me to forget—is
as much above him in social position, as inferior
to him in years and experience.”
“Is it always unworthy in a gentleman to aspire
to a lady above him in social position, Colonel Cathcart?”
The honesty of the colonel checked all reply to this
home-thrust.
Harry resumed:
“At least I am able to maintain my wife in what
may be considered comfort.”
“Your wife!” exclaimed the colonel, his
anger blazing out at the word. “If you
use that expression with any prospective reference
to Miss Cathcart, I am master enough in my own family
to insure you full possession of the presumption.
I wish you good morning.”
The angry man of war turned on his slippered heel,
and was striding away.
“One word, I beg,” said Harry.
The colonel had too much courtesy in his nature not
to stop and turn half towards the speaker.
“I beg to assure you,” said Harry, “that
I shall continue to cherish the hope that after-thoughts
will present my conduct, as well as myself, in a more
favourable light to Colonel Cathcart.”
And he lifted his hat, and walked away by the gate.
“By Jove!” said the colonel, to himself,
notwithstanding the rage he was in, “the fellow
can express himself like a gentleman, anyhow.”
And so he went back to his room, where I heard him
pacing about for hours. I believe he found that
his better self was not to be so easily put down as
he had supposed; and that that better self sided with
Adela and Harry.
