"Sir," he continued, "you will doubtless have very many excellent
excuses to offer for your perfectly inexcusable conduct--but doubtless
you will at least have the good taste to keep them to yourself.
Whatever your reasons, you have been the cause of much pain and very
many bitter tears to--to one I hold inexpressibly dear."
"My lord, I--I have been ill--"
"And it is, I believe, mainly owing to her devotion that you
still--gladden the world, sir."
"My lord, I am here to--to--give Diana my hand in fulfilment of my
promise."
"Are you indeed, Mr. Vereker--you surprise me!"
"To marry her whenever she will, sir."
"Permit me to remark that you are perhaps a little tardy."
"None the less I am here, sir!"
"Your condescension, Mr. Vereker, is somewhat overpowering, such
magnanimity I find vastly touching. But Diana, I am assured, had no
idea of permitting you thus to immolate yourself on the altar of
duty."
"That, my lord, by your favour, I mean to learn from her own lips--at
once."
"Impossible, sir!" he retorted, smiling bitterly. "Quite--quite
impossible."
"Impossible, my lord--impossible? Pray what--sir, what do you mean?" I
stammered.
"That if indeed you are minded--a little late in the day perhaps--but
if--after very mature deliberation--you at last think fit to fulfil
your pledge to Diana, it will of course be necessary that you first
discover her present whereabouts."
"Is she not here at Wyvelstoke with you, my lord?"
"Emphatically not, sir!"
"Then she is with Mrs.
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