Bingham to speak so. It was not even
the way that a gentleman out of his teens should speak to a lady on such
a subject. He knew this as well as she did and was secretly ashamed of
himself. But the truth must out: though Geoffrey did not admit it even
to himself he was bitterly and profoundly jealous, and jealous people
have no manners. Beatrice could not, however, be expected to know this,
and naturally grew angry.
"I do not quite understand what you are talking about, Mr. Bingham," she
said, putting on her most dignified air, and Beatrice could look rather
alarming. "You have picked up a piece of unfounded gossip and now you
take advantage of it to laugh at me, and to say rude things of Mr.
Davies. It is not kind."
"Oh, no; it was the footsteps, Miss Granger, _and_ the gossip, _and_ the
appointment you made in the churchyard, that I unwillingly overheard,
not the gossip alone which led me into my mistake. Of course I have now
to apologise."
Again Beatrice stamped her foot. She saw that he was still mocking her,
and felt that he did not believe her.
"There," he went on, stung into unkindness by his biting but
unacknowledged jealousy, for she was right--on reflection he did
not quite believe what she said as to her not being engaged.
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