Octagon will be
disappointed of her revenge, long though she has waited."
"Revenge! remember, sir, she is the mother of Juliet."
"I sincerely hope Juliet does not take after her, then," said
Lord Caranby, tartly. "To be perfectly plain with you,
Cuthbert, I could never understand why Mrs. Octagon sanctioned
your engagement with her daughter, considering you are my
nephew."
"I don't understand," said Mallow, staring and uneasily.
Caranby did not answer immediately. He rose and walked
painfully up and down the room leaning heavily on his cane.
Mallow offered his arm but was impatiently waved aside. When
the old man sat down again he turned a serious face to his
nephew. "Do you love this girl?"
"With all my heart and soul."
"And she loves you?"
"Of course. We were made for one another."
"But Mrs. Octagon--"
"I don't like Mrs. Octagon--I never did," said Mallow,
impetuously, "but I don't care two straws for her opposition.
I shall marry Juliet in spite of this revenge she seems to be
practising on you. Though why she should hope to vex you by
meddling with my marriage, I cannot understand."
"I can put the matter in a nutshell," said Caranby, and quoted
Congreve--
"'Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned
Nor Hell a fury like a woman scorned.'"
"Oh," said Mallow, dropping his cigarette, and a whole story
was revealed to him in the quotation.
"A gentleman doesn't talk of these things," said Caranby
abruptly, "and for years I have held my tongue.
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