I met him but this morn, and he
warned me of all this."
"Hah, hah!" said Morley with a sort of stifled laugh; "Hah,
hah; he told you did he; the kind good friend whom you met
this morning? Did I not warn you, Sybil, of the traitor? Did
I not tell you to beware of taking this false aristocrat to
your hearth; to worm out all the secrets of that home that he
once polluted by his espionage, and now would desolate by his
treason."
"Of whom and what do you speak?" said Sybil, throwing herself
into a chair.
"I speak of that base spy Egremont."
"You slander an honourable man," said Sybil with dignity. "Mr
Egremont has never entered this house since you met him here
for the first time; save once."
"He needed no entrance to this house to worm out its secrets,"
said Morley maliciously. "That could be more adroitly done by
one who had assignations at command with the most charming of
its inmates."
"Unmannerly churl!" exclaimed Sybil starting in her chair, her
eye flashing lightning, her distended nostril quivering with
scorn.
"Oh! yes. I am a churl," said Morley; "I know I am a churl.
Were I a noble the daughter of the people would perhaps
condescend to treat me with less contempt.
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