My gardening is of the medical kind--I can only carry it on
indoors--and whatever else it may be, I tell you plainly, like the
outspoken sort of fellow I am, it's not likely to prove agreeable to a
lady. No offence, I hope? Your humble servant is only trying to produce
the right sort of impression--and takes leave to doubt his lordship in
one particular."
"In what particular, sir?"
"I'll put it in the form of a question, ma'am. Has my friend persuaded
you to make arrangements for leaving the cottage?"
Iris looked at Lord Harry's friend without attempting to conceal her
opinion of him.
"I call that an impertinent question," she said. "By what right do you
presume to inquire into what my husband and I may, or may not, have
said to each other?"
"Will you do me a favour, my lady? Or, if that is asking too much,
perhaps you will not object to do justice to yourself. Suppose you try
to exercise the virtue of self-control?
"Quite needless, Mr. Vimpany. Pray understand that you are not capable
of making me angry."
"Many thanks, Lady Harry: you encourage me to go on. When I was bold
enough to speak of your leaving the cottage, my motive was to prevent
you from being needlessly alarmed.
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