"
She hesitated, clearly foreseeing trouble either way. Then she
decided.
"There is no necessity today," she said. "If you care to make an
appointment for one day next week, Mr. Cathcart--"
"I am to understand that you refuse me a few minutes now?"
"There is no necessity that I can see--"
"Then I must say what I have to say before Mr. Vincent--"
"One moment, sir," put in the medium, with that sudden slight air of
imperiousness that Lady Laura knew very well by now. "If Lady Laura
consents to hear you, I must take it on myself to see that nothing
offensive is said." He glanced as if for leave towards the woman.
She made an effort.
"If you will say it quickly," she began. "Otherwise--"
The old gentleman drew a breath as if to steady himself. It was plain
that he was very strongly moved beneath his self-command: his air of
cheerful geniality was gone.
"I will say it in one sentence," he said. "It is this: You are ruining
that boy between you, body and soul; and you are responsible before
his Maker and yours. And if--"
"Lady Laura," said the medium, "do you wish to hear any more?"
She made a doubtful little gesture of assent.
"And if you wish to know my reasons for saying this," went on Mr.
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