376
WYLDER'S HAJVD.
Miss Lake, if my manner could in the least justify the
strong and undue language in which you have been
pleased to characterise it; but the fact of being misunder-
stood shall not deter me from the discharge of a simple
duty."
"If it is part of your duty, sir, to make yourself in-
telligible, may I beg that you will do it without further
delay."
"My principal object in calling here was to inform you,
Miss Lake, that you must abandon the idea of residing
in the Vicar's house, as you proposed, unless you wish
me to state explicitly to him and to Mrs. Wylder the in-
surmountable objections which ex:st to any such arrange-
ment. Such a task, Miss Lake, would be most painful to
me. I hesitate to discuss the question even with you;
and if you give me your word of honor that you abandon
that idea, I shall, on the instant take my leave, and cer-
tainly, for the present, trouble you no further upon a most
painful subject."
"And now, sir, as I have no intention whatever of tol-
erating your incomprehensibly impertinent interference,
and don't understand your meaning in the slightest de-
gree, and do not intend to withdraw the offer I have made
to good Mrs. Wylder, you will perceive the uselessness of
prolonging your visit, and be so good as to leave me in
unmolested possession of my poor residence."
"If I wished you an injury, Miss Lake. I should take
you at your word. I don't — I wish to spare you. Your
countenance, Miss Lake — you must pardon my frank-
ness, it is my way — your countenance tells only too
plainly that you now comprehend my allusion."
There was a confidence and significance in the attor-
ney's air and accent, and a peculiar look of latent ferocity
in his evil countenance, which gradually excited her fears,
and fascinated her gaze.