"
Alice made no answer till she was aware that the sister and brother were
out of hearing. She then said to Ravenswood: "And you, too, are angry
with me for my love? It is just that strangers should be offended, but
you, too, are angry!"
"I am not angry, Alice," said the Master, "only surprised that you,
whose good sense I have heard so often praised, should give way to
offensive and unfounded suspicions."
"Offensive!" said Alice. "Ay, trust is ever offensive; but, surely, not
unfounded."
"I tell you, dame, most groundless," replied Ravenswood.
"Then the world has changed its wont, and the Ravenswoods their
hereditary temper, and the eyes of Old Alice's understanding are yet
more blind than those of her countenance. When did a Ravenswood seek the
house of his enemy but with the purpose of revenge? and hither are you
come, Edgar Ravenswood, either in fatal anger or in still more fatal
love."
"In neither," said Ravenswood, "I give you mine honour--I mean, I assure
you."
Alice could not see his blushing cheek, but she noticed his hesitation,
and that he retracted the pledge which he seemed at first disposed to
attach to his denial.
Pages:
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363