She sat down, and hastily wrote a few lines. The Lord Keeper made
another effort to prevent her taking a step so decisive, just as she
opened the door to call her female attendant from the ante-room. "Think
what you are doing, Lady Ashton: you are making a mortal enemy of a
young man who is like to have the means of harming us----"
"Did you ever know a Douglas who feared an enemy?" answered the lady,
contemptuously.
"Ay, but he is as proud and vindictive as an hundred Douglasses, and an
hundred devils to boot. Think of it for a night only."
"Not for another moment," answered the lady. "Here, Mrs. Patullo, give
this billet to young Ravenswood."
"To the Master, madam!" said Mrs. Patullo.
"Ay, to the Master, if you call him so."
"I wash my hands of it entirely," said the Keeper; "and I shall go down
into the garden, and see that Jardine gathers the winter fruit for the
dessert."
"Do so," said the lady, looking after him with glances of infinite
contempt; "and thank God that you leave one behind you as fit to protect
the honour of the family as you are to look after pippins and pears.
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