If mischief comes I shall be to blame,
because I might have stopped it but didn't."
I was silent. This should have been the time for me to tell what I
had discovered that afternoon; of the graveyard and the two strange
women. But shame tied my tongue. I saw that this noble gentleman,
in imparting his thoughts to me, was really condescending to ask my
pardon; and the injustice of it was so monstrous that I felt a
delicacy in letting him know the extent of my unworthiness.
I temporized, and promised myself a better occasion.
"But are you quite sure, sir, that yours was not the wisest plan,
after all?"
"The question is not worth considering," he answered. "My policy--
you would hardly call it a plan, for it wholly depended on
circumstances--no longer exists. The ladies, you see, have forced my
hand."
I forbore to tell him that if the ladies had forced his hand his
accepting full responsibility was simply quixotic.
"She's a wonderful woman," said I, by way of filling up the pause.
"And so womanly!" assented Captain Branscome, to my entire surprise.
"Indeed, sir," I stammered. "Well, I _have_ heard people say--Mr.
Rogers for one--that Miss Belcher ought to have been born a man."
"Miss Belcher? Why, heavens alive, boy, I was referring to Miss
Plinlimmon!"
He dismissed me with a wave of the hand, but called me back as I
turned to the door.
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