O'Hara placed his hat and whip on the table, and stretched his legs with a sigh.
"Sure, 'tis stiff I am! Jim, I've a chaise outside for the baggage, so ye may take it down as soon as may be."
"Leave it where it is, Jim. Miles, 'tis monstrous good of you, but-"
"Keep your buts to yourself, Jack. Me mind's made up."
"And so is mine! I really cannot-"
"Me good boy, ye are coming to stay with us until ye are recovered, if I have to knock ye senseless and then carry ye!"
The lightning smile flashed into Jack's eyes.
"How ferocious! But pray do not be ridiculous over a mere scratch. Recovered, indeed!"
"Ye still look ill. Nay, Jack, take that frown off your face; 'tis of no avail, I am determined."
The door closed softly behind Jim as Carstares shook his head.
"I can't, Miles. You must see 'tis impossible."
"Pooh! No one who comes to Thurze House knows ye or anything about ye. Ye need not see a soul, but come ye must!"
"But, Miles-"
"Jack, don't be a fool! I want ye, and so does Molly. 'Tis no trap, so ye need not look so scared."
"I'm not. Indeed, I am very grateful, but-I cannot. I am going abroad almost at once."
"What?"
"Yes. I mean it."
O'Hara sat up.
"So it has come! I knew it would!"
"What mean you?"
"Ye've found out that ye love Mistress Di."
"Nonsense!"
"And she you."
Jack looked at him.
"Oh, ay! I'm a tactless oaf, I know, and me manners are atrocious to be for trying to break through the barriers ye've put up round yourself. But, I tell ye, Jack, it hurts to be kept at the end of a pole! I don't want to force your confidence, but for God's sake don't be treating me as if I were a stranger!"
"I beg your pardon, Miles. It's confoundedly hard to confide in anyone after six years' solitude." He struggled into his coat as he spoke, and settled his cravat. "If you want to know the whole truth, 'tis because of Diana that I am going."
"Of course. Ye are in love with her?"
"It rather points that way, does it not?"
"Then why the divil don't ye ask her to marry ye?"
"Why don't I ask her? Because I will not offer her a smirched name! Because I love her so much that-" He broke off with a shaky, furious laugh. "How can you ask me such a question? I am a desirable parti, hein? Nom d'un nom! For what do you take me?"