He had stumbled so frequently! Though in action he
would so often be thoughtless,--yet he understood perfectly the
effect which had been produced on his father's mind by his
conduct. He had it at heart 'to be good to the governor', to
gratify that most loving of all possible friends, who, as he well
knew, was always thinking of his welfare. And yet he never had
been 'good to the governor';--nor had Gerald;--and to all this was
added his sister's determined perversity. It was thus he feared
his father.
He paused for a moment, while the Duke stood with his back to the
fire looking at him. 'I'm afraid that it is all over, sir,' he
said.
'All over!'
'I am afraid so, sir.'
'Why is it all over? Has she refused you?'
'Well, sir;--it isn't quite that.' Then he paused again. It was so
difficult to begin about Isabel Boncassen.
'I am sorry for that,' said the Duke, almost hesitating; 'very
sorry. You will understand, I hope, that I should make no inquiry
into the matter, unless I felt myself warranted in doing so by
what you had yourself told me in London.
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