CHAPTER XVII.
AN AGREEABLE WEDDING.
That circumstances, combined with the countess-dowager, worked terribly
against Lord Hartledon, events proved. Had the Ashtons remained at the
Rectory all might have been well; but they went away, and he was left to
any influence that might be brought to bear upon him.
How the climax was accomplished the world never knew. Lord Hartledon
himself did not know the whole of it for a long while. As if unwilling to
trust himself longer in dangerous companionship, he went up to town with
Thomas Carr. Whilst there he received a letter from Cannes, written by
Dr. Ashton; a letter that angered him.
It was a cool letter, a vein of contemptuous anger running through it;
meant to be hidden, but nevertheless perceptible to Lord Hartledon. Its
purport was to forbid all correspondence between him and Miss Ashton:
things had better "remain in abeyance" until they met, ran the words,
"if indeed any relations were ever renewed between them again."
It might have angered Lord Hartledon more than it did, but for the
hopelessness which had taken up its abode within him. Nevertheless he
resented it. He did not suppose it possible that the Ashtons could have
heard of the dilemma he was in, or that he should be unable to fulfil his
engagement with Anne, having with his usual vacillation put off any
explanation with them; which of course must come sometime.
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