“I am indeed sorry that you should have misconstrued⁠—”

“No misconstruction, madam!” snapped the Squire, who was fast losing control over his temper. “Do you dare aver that you did not encourage me to visit you?”

“I do, most emphatically!”

“Oh, I see what ’tis! You cannot hoodwink me. ’Twas never thus with you before that fellow came!”

“ Mr. Bettison, I am entirely at a loss, but I desire you to leave this room before you say aught you may afterwards regret.”

He disregarded her.

“You are infatuated by that overdressed popinjay⁠—that insufferable Carr, who, from all I hear, is but a shady fellow, and who⁠—”