“How do I know it?  By knowing that higher nature of yours, which you now ignore.  Yet it is not of myself that I wish to speak, but of her.  Thurston, you pursue that girl for mere pastime, I am sure—­with no ulterior evil purpose, I am certain; yet, Thurston!” she said, involuntarily pressing her hand tightly upon her own bosom, “I know how a woman may love you, and that may be death or madness to Angelica, which is only whim and amusement to you.  And, Thurston, you must go no further with this culpable trifling—­you must promise me to see her no more!”

“‘Must!’ Upon my soul! you take state upon yourself, fair queen!”

“Thurston, a higher authority than mine speaks by my lips—­it is the voice of Right!  You will regard it.  You will give me that promise!”

“And if I do not—­”

“Oh! there is no time to argue with you longer—­some one is coming—­I must be quick.  It is two weeks, Thurston, since I first urged this upon you; I have hesitated already too long, and now I tell you, though my heart bleeds to say it, that unless you promise to see Angelica no more, I will see and have an explanation with her to-morrow!”

“You will!”

“You can prevent it, dearest Thurston, by yourself doing what you know to be right.”

“And if I do not?”

“I will see Miss Le Roy, to-morrow!”

“By heaven, then—­”

His words were suddenly cut short by the entrance of Mrs. Waugh.  In an instant his countenance changed, and taking up his bag of game, he went to meet the smiling, good humored woman, saying with a gay laugh: 

“Good-morning, Mrs. Waugh!  You see I have been shooting in the woods of Luckenough this morning, and I could not leave the premises without offering this tribute to their honored mistress.”

And Thurston gayly laid the trophy at her feet.

“Hebe! will you please to see that a cup of hot coffee is sent up to Mrs. L’Oiseau; she is unwell this morning, as I knew she would be, from her excitement last night; or go with it yourself, Hebe!  The presence of the goddess of health at her bedside is surely needed.”

Marian left the room, and then Mrs. Waugh, turning to the young gentleman, said: 

“Thurston, I am glad to have this opportunity of speaking to you, for I have something very particular to say, which you must hear without taking offense at your old aunty!”

“Humph!  I am in for petticoat discipline this morning, beyond a doubt,” thought the young man; but he only bowed, and placed a chair for Mrs. Waugh.

“I shall speak very plainly, Thurston.”

“Oh! by all means!  As plainly as you please, Mrs. Waugh,” said Thurston, with an odd grimace; “I am growing accustomed to have ladies speak very plainly to me.”

“Well! it won’t do you any harm, Thurston.  And now to the point!  I told you before, that you must not show any civility to Jacquelina.  And now I repeat it!  And I warn you that if you do, you will cause some frightful misfortune that you will have to repent all the days of your life—­if it be not fatal first of all to yourself.  I do assure you that old Grimshaw is mad with jealousy.  He can no longer be held responsible for his actions.  And in short, you must see Jacquelina no more!”