"I mean to say, my lord, that he has fallen in love with her;
and, judging from appearances, I should say his flame is not
altogether hopeless, although they have met to-night for the
first time."
"A rapid passion. Where have you left her, Ormiston?"
"In her own house, my lord," Ormiston replied, smiling quietly to
himself.
"Where is that?"
"About a dozen yards from where I stood when you called me."
"Who are her family?" continued the earl, who seemed possessed of
a devouring curiosity.
"She has none that I know of. I imagine Mistress Leoline is an
orphan. I know there was not a living soul but ourselves in the
house I brought her to."
"And you left her there alone?" exclaimed the earl, half starting
up, an if about to order the boatman to row back to the landing.
Ormiston looked at his excited face with a glance full of quiet
malice.
"No, my lord, not quits; Sir Norman Kingsley was with her!"
"Oh!" said the earl, smiling back with a look of chagrin. "Then
he will probably find out her name before he comes away. I
wonder you could give her up so easily to him, after all your
trouble!"
"Smitten, my lord?" inquired Ormiston, maliciously.
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