"Your entrance was sufficiently startling, coz, but tell me over
again--what was the occasion?"
"That caitiff, Craven Le Noir, has slandered me! Oh, the villain! He
is a base slanderer! Percy, get up this moment and challenge Le
Noir! I cannot breathe freely until it is done!" exclaimed Capitola,
impetuously.
"Cousin Cap, duelling is obsolete; scenes are passe; law settles
everything; and here there is scarcely ground for action for libel.
But be comforted, coz, for if this comes to Uncle Hurricane's ears,
he'll make mince-meat of him in no time, It is all in his line;
he'll chaw him right up! "
"Percy, do you mean to say that you will not call out that man?"
asked Capitola, drawing her breath hardly.
"Yes, coz."
"You won't fight him?"
"No, coz."
"You won't?"
"No."
"Edwin Percy, look me straight in the face!" said Cap, between her
closed teeth.
"Well, I am looking you straight in the face--straight in the two
blazing gray eyes, you little tempest in a teapot--what then?"
"Do I look as though I should be in earnest in what I am about to
speak?"
"I should judge so."
"Then listen, and don't take your eyes off mine until I am done
speaking!"
"Very well, don't be long, though, for it rather agitates me."
"I will not! Hear me, then! You say that you decline to challenge Le
Noir. Very good! I, on my part, here renounce all acquaintance with
you! I will never sit down at the same table--enter the same room,
or breathe the same air with you--never speak to you--listen to you,
or recognize you in any manner, until my deep wrongs are avenged in
the punishment of my slanderer, so help me--"
"Hush--sh! don't swear, Cap--it's profane and unwomanly; and nothing
on earth but broken oaths would be the result!"
But Cap was off! In an instant she was down in the yard, where her
groom was holding her horse, ready in case she wished to take her
usual ride.
Pages:
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206