'
'How very ungallant!' said Anne.
'Still,' said Rupert, 'without appearing as the preserver of the fair
Harriet from a watery grave, I think I have interest enough with Mrs.
Hazleby to be able to break the fatal news to her, and calm her first
agonies of grief and wrath.'
'You, Rupert?' said Anne.
'Myself, Anne,' replied Rupert; 'you have no notion what friends Mrs.
Hazleby and I have become. We had a tete-a-tete of an hour and a
half this morning.'
'What could you find to talk about?' said Anne.
'First,' said Rupert, 'she asked about my grouse shooting; where I
went, and with whom, and whether I had seen any of the Campbells of
Inchlitherock. Of course we embarked in a genealogy of the whole
Campbell race; then came a description of the beauties of
Inchlitherock. Next I was favoured with her private history; how
she, being one of thirteen, was forced, at eighteen, to leave the
lovely spot, and embark with her brother for India.'
'On speculation,' said Elizabeth.
'And finally, how she came to marry the Major.'
'O Rupert, that is too much; you must have invented it!' cried Anne.
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