Lizzie, as she saw her aunt, made up her mind
for the combat. Who is there that has lived to be a man or woman, and has
not experienced a moment in which a combat has impended, and a call for
such sudden courage has been necessary? Alas! sometimes the combat comes,
and the courage is not there. Lady Eustace was not at her ease as she saw
her aunt enter the room. "Oh, come ye in peace, or come ye in war?" she
would have said had she dared. Her aunt had sent up her love, if the
message had been delivered aright; but what of love could there be between
those two? The countess dashed at once to the matter in hand, making no
allusion to Lizzie's ungrateful conduct to herself. "Lizzie," she said,
"I've been asked to come to you by Mr. Camperdown. I'll sit down, if you
please."
"Oh, certainly, Aunt Penelope. Mr. Camperdown!"
"Yes; Mr. Camperdown. You know who he is. He has been to me because I am
your nearest relation. So I am, and therefore I have come. I don't like
it, I can tell you."
"As for that, Aunt Penelope, you've done it to please yourself," said
Lizzie in a tone of insolence with which Lady Linlithgow had been familiar
in former days.
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