He had replied fiercely that a legion of brothers ready to act on
her behalf would not have altered his conduct; but not the less
did he feel that he had behaved badly to her. It could not now be
altered. He could not now be untrue to Isabel. But certainly he
had said a word or two to Mabel which he could not remember
without regret. He had not thought that a word from him could have
been so powerful. Now, when that word was recalled to his memory
by the girl to whom it had been spoken he could not acquit
himself.
And Mabel had declared to him that she would at once appeal to his
father. There was an absurdity in this at which he could not but
smile,--that the girl should complain to his father because he
would not marry her! But even in doing this she might cause him
great vexation. He could not bring himself to ask her not to tell
her story to the Duke. He must take all that as it might come.
While he was thinking of all this in his own room a servant
brought him two letters. From the first which he opened he
perceived that it contained an account of more troubles.
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