Ashmead was in the hall to show his patroness to her carriage--a duty he never failed in. Rhoda shook hands with him, and he said, "Delighted to see you here, miss. You will be a great comfort to her."The two friends communed till two o'clock in the morning: but the limits of my tale forbid me to repeat what passed.
Suffice it to say that Rhoda was fairly puzzled by the situation; but, having a great regard for Vizard, saw clearly enough that he ought to be sent back to Islip. She thought that perhaps the very sight of her would wound his pride, and, finding his mania discovered by a third person, he would go of his own accord: so she called on him.
My lord received her with friendly composure, and all his talk was about Islip. He did not condescend to explain his presence at Carlisle. He knew that _qui s'excuse s'accuse,_ and left her to remonstrate. She had hardly courage for that, and hoped it might be unnecessary.
She told Ina what she had done. But her visit was futile: at night there was Vizard in his box.
Next day the company opened in Manchester. Vizard was in his box there--Severne in front, till Ina's principal song. Then he came round and presented his bouquet. But this time he came up to Rhoda Gale, and asked her whether a penitent man might pay his respects to her in the morning.
She said she believed there were very few penitents in the world.
"I know one," said he.
"Well, I don't, then," said the virago. "But _you_ can come, if you are not afraid."Of course Ina Klosking knew of this appointment two minutes after it was made. She merely said, "Do not let him talk you over.""He is not so likely to talk me over as you," said Rhoda.
"You are mistaken," was Ina's reply. "I am the one person he will never deceive again."Rhoda Gale received his visit: he did not beat about the bush, nor fence at all. He declared at once what he came for. He said, "At the first sight of you, whom I have been so ungrateful to, I could not speak; but now I throw myself on your forgiveness. I think you must have seen that my ingratitude has never sat light on me.""I have seen that you were terribly afraid of me," said she.