He paused , but still she did not speak .sx Her silence was a rebuke .sx " I assume that the young lady did not mention the circumstance to you .sx She pretended to me - very convincingly , in fact - that she was no more than a country girl , and I kissed her .sx " .sx Lady Waverton gave a faint smile .sx " No wonder she did not tell me about it .sx And then ?sx " .sx " She kicked me .sx Hard .sx And I am afraid I deserved it , for I confess I was not taken in by her charade .sx She did it well - very well , in fact !sx I exchanged a few words with her the following afternoon :sx Edmund had disappeared , and I was looking for him , so I was in a hurry .sx I am afraid I teased her .sx " .sx A little frown wrinkled Lady Waverton's forehead .sx " She is very innocent .sx More so than most girls of her age , form the circumstance of our having lived so very retired .sx She would have no idea of the risk she ran .sx " .sx " I am not in the habit of ravishing every country girl I find , " he pointed out mildly .sx " No , but she did not know that , did she ?sx I think the better of you for telling me about it - trusting , of course , that the episode will not be repeated .sx It may have given her a useful lesson , and it certainly made her think .sx The following day she asked me about her father .sx " .sx " Waverton ?sx The name seems familiar .sx " .sx " Sir George Waverton .sx I... left him , before Theodora was born .sx " .sx " From what I have heard , I do not altogether blame you .sx I was still at school then , but he was a gambler , was he not ?sx And that is why you live as you do ?sx " .sx " Yes .sx As a deserting wife , I could have no place in Society .sx I tell you this , because it is only right that Lacy Lingdale should know of the household in which her son is residing .sx " .sx " You are very scrupulous .sx I do not think it is something that will worry her .sx Something else will , however .sx Your daughter .sx " .sx Lady Waverton sighed .sx " I know it .sx But they are both so young , hardly more than children .sx .. " .sx " She is a very beautiful girl , and he is just of the age to be forming romantic attachments .sx So , of course , is she .sx " .sx " What can I do ?sx To keep them apart would do more harm than good , for they would have nothing to do but think of one another .sx It is the greatest misfortune that she should have found him , except , of course , that the poor boy might have died if he had remained out in the cold night .sx " .sx " I would have nothing to say against such a match , for she is his equal in birth , and might well do him the world of good , " Mr Ravensworth commented .sx " You make her sound like a paregoric draught , " returned Lady Waverton .sx " Unintentionally , you may be sure .sx It is his mother who might be the trouble .sx It has not yet occurred to her that one day she will have to lose her son to another woman .sx " .sx " I think we are worrying unnecessarily over something that will probably not happen .sx You have not had a chance to discover that Theodora has a great deal of common sense .sx The best thing we can do is to behave as if nothing were further form our thoughts .sx To separate them , or to warn them , would only put ideas into their heads .sx I shall keep Theodora busy , and you may be sure that they will spend no time alone together .sx " .sx Mr Ravensworth rose .sx " Once again , you put me to rights .sx I will take my leave of you in the hope that I may be allowed to visit again tomorrow ?sx I must inform Edmund's mother of his whereabouts , and arrange for him to be seen by another doctor - no insult to your own man is intended , of course , but knowing Amelia Lingdale , she will want to have her own doctor visit , at vast expense , from London .sx " .sx " Will Lady Lingdale wish to visit her son ?sx If so - " .sx " I shall do my best to discourage it .sx You have enough on your hands without entertaining strangers , and she is very exacting .sx Besides , I think it better if she does not set eyes on your daughter !sx " .sx Lady Waverton could not but agree with him .sx Upstaris in her bedroom , Theodora had enjoyed a hearty burst of tears , and then had philosophically washed her face and sat down by the window to reflect , as her mother had suggested .sx Passing under review the short interview that had taken place , she found her hands were unconsciously clenching themselves into fists , and relaxed them .sx There was no doubt that she had behaved rudely , but what of him ?sx If anyone deserved taking down a peg or two , it was Mr Ravensworth .sx The memory of his kiss seared her ; with an effort she bundled the thought back into the depths of her mind , resolutely slamming the door on the recollection of her feelings .sx He was detestable , and a tease , and a bully too , and she would not be at all surprised if he were not planning some mischief to his hapless ward .sx By the time her mother came to see her , she had worked herself up into a fine crusading zeal to protect Lord Lingdale , and bring his persecutor to justice .sx Lady Waverton looked at the flushed , mutinous face .sx " Mr Ravensworth has gone , " she said mildly .sx " Good !sx I hope I shall never have to exchange another word with him .sx " .sx " That will be difficult , since he is bound to come and visit his ward .sx Do you propose to spend the next few weeks up here , or would you like to go and stay with the doctor and his wife ?sx I am sure they would have you .sx " .sx " Run away from him ?sx Certainly not !sx " .sx " Then you must try not to embarrass me by behaving as you did this afternoon .sx These are not the manners I have tried to teach you , my dear .sx " .sx " No , Mama , and I am very sorry .sx But if you knew !sx I did not tell you before , because I did not want to vex you , but I have met Mr Ravensworth before , when I went to visit Mag the other day .sx " .sx " I know .sx Mr Ravensworth confessed it .sx " .sx " But I am sure he did not confess how he behaved ?sx " .sx " Well , he told me he kissed you .sx And I have to tell you , Theodora , that you were lucky that one snatched kiss was all you received .sx " .sx Her daughter hung her head .sx " I'm sorry , Mama .sx I thought if I talked like a village girl he would leave me alone .sx Afterwards , I realised I had been mistaken .sx Oh , Mama , do all men behave so ?sx I had thought him a gentleman .sx " .sx " Not all men , darling .sx And he is a gentleman .sx He meant , I think , to teach you a lesson .sx I have to tell you that he was not deceived by your act , though he did say you did it very well .sx " .sx " You mean .sx .. he knew I was a gentlewoman .sx .. and he still kissed me ?sx And you say he is a gentleman ?sx " .sx " Yes .sx And yes .sx " .sx " Well , I do not .sx How could he ?sx " .sx " As I said , to teach you a lesson .sx A less well - bred man , my dear , would have pretended to me that he was convinced by your acting , if he had ever spoken of it at all .sx I think you should be grateful to him .sx " .sx " Grateful to him ?sx He is the most horrible man I have ever met !sx " .sx " Then you are not likely to imagine you are forming a romantic passion for him , are you ?sx He is very good - looking , after all , " said her mother , wiser than Mr Ravensworth in the ways of young girls .sx " A romantic passion ?sx For him ?sx I would be as likely to fall in love with - with an adder !sx " .sx With this , Lady Waverton had to be satisfied .sx Mr Ravensworth did not , in fact , visit during the following afternoon .sx Theodora , who had been practising a look of dignified disdain in front of her looking - glass sic !sx , and had done her hair up with more than usual care , was scornful .sx " He is not even a man of his word !sx Did he not say he would come to see you today ?sx Now it is nearly dark , and he will certainly not arrive .sx " .sx " Thank goodness for that , " replied the invalid .sx " I do not want to see him at all .sx " .sx " No , nor do I , but if he said he would come , it is very rode of him not to , " said Theodora inconsistently .sx " Anyway , you do not need to be afraid of him here .sx " .sx " I am not afraid of him !sx " he responded indignantly .sx " I just do not want to see him !sx He has such a sarcastic way with him ; whatever I say he seemes seems< to misunderstand me .sx I am sure he does it on purpose .sx " .sx " Of course he does .sx You should not let him put you out .sx " .sx " You should have heard him when I said I did not wish to go hunting with the Belvoir !sx And , whatever he may say , it was not because I had that fall last time he took me out hunting with him .sx " .sx " Was it bad ?sx Were you hurt ?sx " .sx " No , not really .sx He took a fence , and there was a ditch on the other side .sx I tried to follow him , because I thought he would be pleased , but I did not know about the ditch .sx I went over the horse's head , but the horse broke its front legs , and had to be shot .sx " .sx Theodora shivered .sx " How dreadful !sx No wonder you did not want to go again .sx Was he very angry ?sx " .sx " Yes .sx It was his horse .sx He was far more upset about that than about danger to me , I am sure .sx " .sx Theodora gazed at him , wide - eyed .sx " You do not suppose .sx .. he meant you to have an accident , do you ?sx " .sx Edmund looked back , all too quick to pick up her meaning .sx " I do not think so , " he said , slowly .sx " He told me , at the meet , not to follow him , because I did not know the country .sx He said I should not risk a jump unless I was quite sure of it , and that there was no shame in going round by a gate .sx " .sx " If anyone said that to me , I would jump every hedge and fence I came to , " asserted Theodora .sx " Yes , and so I did , " he admitted .sx " Then that was what he meant you to do , " she said darkly , lowering her voice so that the incurious Mary would not be likely to hear them .sx " It would be just like him , to tell you to do one thing so that you would do just the opposite !sx " .sx He was impressed by her reasoning , but dubious .sx " But he was very annoyed about the horse .sx " .sx " Of course he was !sx That was his mask , to cover the fact that he was really annoyed that you had not been killed !sx I expect he would have inherited your fortune , wouldn't he !sx " .sx " Yes , but - " .sx " There you are , then !sx She was triumphant .sx " But I haven't go a fortune - not really .sx Oh , I don't mean I'm a pauper , or anything .sx There's a place in the country , and some land , and money in Funds .sx I suppose you could say I'm comfortably off .sx But Cousin Alexander is rich !sx Really rich , I mean .sx I don't really know , but I believe his income is at least forty thousand a year .sx " .sx Theodora was impressed , but was too enamoured of her theory to abandon it too easily .sx " You don't think he might have gambled it all away ?sx He told mama he was a member of Brook's , and they play very high there , don't they ?sx " .sx " Yes , but he has the most extraordinary luck .sx He's known for it .sx And he's far too careful to bet more than he can afford .sx Why , he once gave me a real dressing down only for putting fifty guineas on a horse !sx " .sx " Then if it's not your fortune , it must be your title .sx After all , he's only a plain Mr , and you're a Lord !sx " .sx " I don't know that he cares very much for that .sx " .sx