"Good God, Tracy! do you think you are living in the Dark Ages? One cannot do these things now, I tell you! Will you not at least remember that you represent our house? 'Twill be a pretty thing an there is a scandal!" She broke off hopelessly and watched him flick a remnant of snuff from his cravat.
"Oh, Tracy! 'Tis indeed a dangerous game you play. Pray consider!"
"Really, Lavinia, you are most entertaining. I trust I am capable of caring for myself and mine own honour."
"Oh, don't sneer-don't sneer!" she cried. "Sometimes I think I quite hate you!"
"You would be the more amusing, my dear."
She swept the back of her hand across her eyes in a characteristic movement.
"How cross I am!" she said, and laughed waveringly. "You must bear with me, Tracy. Indeed, I am not well."
"You should take the waters," he repeated.
"Oh, I do!-I do! And that reminds me that I must look for your beauty."
"She is not like to be there," he answered. "'Tis only very seldom that she appears."
"What! Is she then religieuse?"
"Religieuse! Why, in heaven's name?"
"But not to walk in the Rooms-!"
"She is staying here with her aunt, who has been ill. They do not mix much in society."
"How very dreadful! Yet she used to walk in the Rooms, for you met her there?"
"Yes," he admitted coolly. "'Tis for that reason that she now avoids them."
"Oh, Tracy, the poor child!" exclaimed his sister in a sudden fit of pity. "How can you persecute her, if she dislikes you?"
"She does not."
"Not! Then-"
"Rather, she fears me. But she is intrigued, for all that. I persecute her, as you call it, for her own (and my) ultimate good. But they quit Bath in a few days, and then, nous verrons!" He rose. "What of Honest Dick?"
"Don't call him by that odious name! I will not have it!"
"Odious, my dear? Odious? You would have reason an I called him Dishonest Dick."
"Don't! Don't!" she cried, covering her ears.
His Grace laughed softly.
"Oh, Lavinia, yon must get the better of these megrims of yours, for there is nought that sickens a man sooner, believe me."
"Oh, go away!-go away!" she implored. "You tease me and tease me until I cannot bear it, and indeed I do not mean to be shrewish! Please go!"
"I am on the point of doing so, my dear. I trust you will have in a measure recovered when next I see you. Pray bear my respects to Hon -to the Honourable Richard."