I told him how I had guarded myself--
never once come across the sportsmen, and only seen Mr. Yolland
professionally when he showed me how to dress Harold's hand, besides
the time when he went over the pottery with us. Nay, Dermot himself
had only twice come into my company--once about his sister, and once
to inquire after Harold after the adventure with the lion.
There I found I had alluded to what made Lord Erymanth doubly
convinced that I must be blinded; my sight must be amiably obscured,
as to the unfitness--he might say, the impropriety of such companions
for me. He regretted all the more where his nephew was concerned,
but it was due to me to warn, to admonish, me of the true facts of
the case.
I did not see how I could want any admonition of the true facts I had
seen with my own eyes.
He was intensely astonished, and did not know how to believe that I
had actually seen the lion overpowered; whereupon I begged to know
what he had heard. He was very unwilling to tell me, but it came out
at last that Dermot and Harold--being, he feared, in an improperly
excited condition--had insisted on going to the den with the keeper,
and had irritated the animal by wanton mischief, and he was convinced
that this could not have taken place in my presence.
I was indignant beyond measure. Had not Dermot told him the true
story? He shook his head, and was much concerned at having to say
so, but he had so entirely ceased to put any confidence in Dermot's
statements that he preferred not listening to them.
Pages:
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153