might be brought to an
end by some dreadful convulsion. No girl could be more anxious to be
married and taken away from her home. If Sir Felix did not appear
again, what should she do? She had seen enough of life to be aware
that suitors would come,--would come as long as that convulsion was
staved off. She did not suppose that her journey to Liverpool would
frighten all the men away. But she had thought that it would put an
end to Lord Nidderdale's courtship; and when her father had commanded
her, shaking her by the shoulders, to accept Lord Nidderdale when he
should come on Sunday, she had replied by expressing her assurance
that Lord Nidderdale would never be seen at that house any more. On
the Sunday he had not come; but here he was now, standing with his
back to the drawing-room door, and cutting off her retreat with the
evident intention of renewing his suit. She was determined at any
rate that she would speak up. 'I don't know what you should have to
say to me, Lord Nidderdale.'

'Why shouldn't I have something to say to you?'

'Because--. Oh, you know why. Besides, I've told you ever so often, my
lord. I thought a gentleman would never go on with a lady when the
lady has told him that she liked somebody else better.'

'Perhaps I don't believe you when you tell me.'

'Well; that is impudent! You may believe it then. I think I've given
you reason to believe it, at any rate.'

'You can't be very fond of him now, I should think.'

'That's all you know about it, my lord. Why shouldn't I be fond of
him? Accidents will happen, you know.'

'I don't want to make any allusion to anything that's unpleasant, Miss
Melmotte.'

'You may say just what you please. All the world knows about it. Of
course I went to Liverpool, and of course papa had me brought back
again.'

'Why did not Sir Felix go?'

'I don't think, my lord, that that can be any business of yours.'

'But I think that it is, and I'll tell you why. You might as well let
me say what I've got to say,--out at once.'

'You may say what you like, but it can't make any difference.'

'You knew me before you knew him, you know.'

'What does that matter? If it comes to that, I knew ever so many
people before I knew you.'

'And you were engaged to me.'

'You broke it off.'

'Listen to me for a moment or two. I know I did. Or, rather, your
father and my father broke it off for us.'

'If we had cared for each other they couldn't have broken it off.
No