Here she opened her eyes and met those of Sir Francis, who was eagerly bending over her. She uttered an exclamation of alarm, and strove to rise. He held her still more closely.
"Thelma--dear, dearest Thelma! Let me comfort you,--let me tell you how much I love you!"
And before she could divine his intent, he pressed his lips passionately on her pale cheek. With a cry she tore herself violently from his arms and sprang to her feet, trembling in every limb.
"What--what is this?" she exclaimed wrathfully. "Are you mad?"
And still weak and confused from her recent attack of faintness, she pushed back her hair from her brows and regarded him with a sort of puzzled horror.
He flushed deeply, and set his lips hard.
"I dare say I am," he answered, with a bitter laugh; "in fact, I know I am! You see, I've betrayed my miserable secret. Will you forgive me, Lady Errington--Thelma?" He drew nearer to her, and his eyes darkened with restrained passion. "Matchless beauty!--adorable woman, as you are!--will you not pardon my crime, if crime it be--the crime of loving you? For I do love you!--Heaven only knows how utterly and desperately!"
She stood mute, white, almost rigid, with that strange look of horror frozen, as it were, upon her features. Emboldened by her silence, he approached and caught her hand,--she wrenched it from his grasp and motioned him from her with a gesture of such royal contempt that he quailed before her. All suddenly the flood-gates of her speech were loosened,--the rising tide of burning indignation that in its very force had held her dumb and motionless, now broke forth unrestrainedly.
"O God!" she cried impetuously, a magnificent glory of disdain flashing in her jewel-like eyes, "what thing is this that calls itself a man?--this thief of honor,--this pretended friend? What have I done, sir, that you should put such deep disgrace as your so-called love upon me?--what have I seemed, that you thus dare to outrage me by the pollution of your touch? I,--the wife of the noblest gentleman in the land! Ah!" and she drew a long breath--"and it is you who speak against my husband--you!" She smiled scornfully,--then with more calmness continued--"You will leave my house, sir, at once! . . . and never presume to enter it again!"
And she stepped towards the bell. He looked at her with an evil leer.
"Stop a moment!" he said coolly. "Just one moment before you ring. Pray consider! The servant cannot possibly enter, as the door is locked."