_There_ the gentleman's superficial good-breeding failed to hide the natural man beneath.
"I will leave you in undisturbed possession of the room," he said to my aunt with bitter politeness.

"Before I go, permit me to give your niece an opportunity of reconsidering her conduct before it is too late." My aunt drew back, leaving him free to speak to me.

After considering for a moment, he laid his hand firmly, but not roughly, on my arm.

"You have accepted Lionel Varleigh's invitation to visit him," he said, "under pretense of seeing his curiosities.

Think again before you decide on keeping that engagement.