Would he not die for her,--or
for them,--if he could so serve them? Surely this woman had
accused him most wrongfully when she had intimated that he could
see his girl suffer without caring for it. In his indignation he
determined--for a while--that he would remove her from the custody
of Lady Cantrip. But then, where should he place her? He was aware
that his own house would be like a grave to a girl just fit to
come into this world. In this coming autumn she must go
somewhere,--with some one. He himself, in his present state of
mind, would be but a sorry travelling companion.
Lady Cantrip had said that the best hope of escape would lie in
the prospect of another lover. The prescription was disagreeable,
but it had availed in the case of his own wife. Before he had ever
seen her as Lady Glencora McCloskie she had been desirous of
giving herself and all her wealth to one Burgo Fitzgerald, who had
been altogether unworthy. The Duke could remember well how a
certain old Lady Midlothian had first told him that Lady Glencora's
property was very large, and had then added that the young lady
herself was very beautiful.
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