96
WYLDER'S HAJVD.
"Yes, I was wrong; I'm sorry; things have turned out
different. Who's that?" said Lake, grasping her wrist.
*' Who — where — Mark Wylder?"
"No; it's nothing, I believe."
"Where is he? Where have you left him?"
"Up there, at the pathway, near the stone steps."
"Waiting there?"
"Well, yes: and I don't think I'll go back, Radie."
"You shall go back, sir, and carry my message; or,
no, I could not trust you. I'll go with you and see him,
and disabuse him. How could you — how could you,
Stanley?"
"It was a mistake, altogether; I'm sorry, but I could
not tell there was such a devil on the earth."
"Yes, I told you so. He has frightened you" said
Rachel.
"He has maybe. At any rate, I was a fool, and I
think I'm ruined; and I'm afraid, Rachel, you'll be incon-
venienced too.''
"Yes, you have made him brutal; and between you,
I shall be called in question, you wretched fool!"
Stanley was taking these hard terms very meekly for a
savage young coxcomb like him. Perhaps they bore no
very distinct meaning just then to his mind. Perhaps it
was preoccupied with more exciting ideas; or, it may be,
his agitation and fear cried " amen" to the reproach; at
all events, he only said, in a pettish but deprecatory sort
of way —
"Well, where's the good of scolding; how can I help it
now?"
"What's your quarrel? why does he wait for you there?
why has he sent you here? It must concern me, sir, and
I insist on hearing it all."
"So you shall, Radie; only have patience just a