'I suppose you desire to be
considered a gentleman?'
'Can you doubt it, madam?' said I.
'I doubt very much, at least, whether you go to the right way about
it,' she said. 'You have come here to me, I cannot very well say
how; I think you will admit you owe me some thanks, if it was only
for the breakfast I made ye. But what are you to me? A waif young
man, not so far to seek for looks and manners, with some English
notes in your pocket and a price upon your head. I am a lady; I
have been your hostess, with however little will; and I desire that
this random acquaintance of yours with my family will cease and
determine.'
I believe I must have coloured. 'Madam,' said I, 'the notes are of
no importance; and your least pleasure ought certainly to be my
law. You have felt, and you have been pleased to express, a doubt
of me. I tear them up.' Which you may be sure I did thoroughly.
'There's a good lad!' said the dragon, and immediately led the way
to the front lawn.
The brother and sister were both waiting us here, and, as well as I
could make out in the imperfect light, bore every appearance of
having passed through a rather cruel experience. Ronald seemed
ashamed to so much as catch my eye in the presence of his aunt, and
was the picture of embarrassment. As for Flora, she had scarce the
time to cast me one look before the dragon took her by the arm, and
began to march across the garden in the extreme first glimmer of
the dawn without exchanging speech.
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