Still, however, Mr. Langley persisted in doing the honors of his table, in proceeding doggedly through all the festive ceremonies of the hour, until the ladies rose and retired. Then, after looking at his watch, he beckoned to one of his sons to take his place; and quietly left the room. He only stopped once, as he crossed the hall, to ask news of his daughter from one of the servants. The reply was, that she had had a hysterical fit; that the medical attendant of the family had been sent for; and that since his arrival she had become more composed. When the man had spoken, Mr. Langley made no remark, but proceeded at once to the library. He locked the door behind him, as soon as he entered the room.
Mr. Streatfield was already waiting there--he was seated at the table, endeavoring to maintain an appearance of composure, by mechanically turning over the leaves of the books before him. Mr. Langley drew a chair near him; and in low, but very firm tones, began the conversation thus:--
"I have given you two hours, sir, to collect yourself, to consider your position fully--I presume, therefore, that you are now prepared to favor me with an explanation of your conduct at my table, to-day."
"What explanation can I make?--what can I say, or think of this most terrible of fatalities?" exclaimed Mr. Streatfield, speaking faintly and confusedly; and still not looking up--"There has been an unexampled error committed!--a fatal mistake, which I could never have anticipated, and over which I had no control!"
"Enough, sir, of the language of romance," interrupted Mr. Langley, coldly; "I am neither of an age nor a disposition to appreciate it. I come here to ask plain questions honestly, and I insist, as my right, on receiving answers in the same spirit. _You_, Mr. Streatfield, sought an introduction to _me_--you professed yourself attached to my daughter Jane--your proposals were (I fear unhappily for _us_) accepted--your wedding-day was fixed--and now, after all this, when you happen to observe my daughter's twin-sister sitting opposite to you--"
"Her twin-sister!" exclaimed Mr. Streatfield; and his trembling hand crumpled the leaves of the book, which he still held while he spoke. "Why is it, intimate as I have been with your family, that I now know for the first time that Miss Jane Langley has a twin-sister?"