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〃dear；〃 from her lovely lips； entered his heart； and ran through
all his veins like some rapturous but dangerous elixir。 He did not
say to himself； 〃She is a widow with a child； feels old with grief；
and looks on me as a boy who has been kind to her。〃 Such prudence
and wariness were hardly to be expected from his age。 He had
admired her at first sight； very nearly loved her at their first
interview； and now this sweet word opened a heavenly vista。 The
generous heart that beat in his small frame burned to console her
with a life…long devotion and all the sweet offices of love。
He ordered his yacht to Gravesendfor he had become a sailorand
then he called on Mrs。 Staines； and told her； with a sort of
sheepish cunning； that now； as his yacht HAPPENED to be at
Gravesend； he could come and see her very often。 He watched her
timidly； to see how she would take that proposition。
She said； with the utmost simplicity； 〃I'm very glad of it。〃
Then he produced his oracles； and she devoured them。 Such precepts
to Tadcaster as she could apply to her own case she instantly noted
in her memory； and they became her law from that moment。
Then； in her simplicity； she said； 〃And I will show you some
things； in his own handwriting； that may be good for you； but I
can't show you the whole book： some of it is sacred from every eye
but his wife's。 His wife's？ Ah me！ his widow's。〃
Then she pointed out passages in the diary that she thought might
be for his good； and he nestled to her side； and followed her white
finger with loving eyes； and was in an elysiumwhich she would
certainly have put a stop to at that time； had she divined it。 But
all wisdom does not come at once to an unguarded woman。 Rosa
Staines was wiser about her husband than she had been； but she had
plenty to learn。
Lord Tadcaster anchored off Gravesend； and visited Mrs。 Staines
nearly every day。 She received him with a pleasure that was not at
all lively； but quite undisguised。 He could not doubt his welcome；
for once； when he came； she said to the servant； 〃Not at home；〃 a
plain proof she did not wish his visit to be cut short by any one
else。
And so these visits and devoted attentions of every kind went on
unobserved by Lord Tadcaster's friends； because Rosa would never go
out； even with him； but at last Mr。 Lusignan saw plainly how this
would end； unless he interfered。
Well； he did not interfere； on the contrary； he was careful to
avoid putting his daughter on her guard： he said to himself； 〃Lord
Tadcaster does her good。 I'm afraid she would not marry him； if he
was to ask her now； but in time she might。 She likes him a great
deal better than any one else。〃
As for Philip； he was abroad for his own health； somewhat impaired
by his long and faithful attendance on Rosa。
So now Lord Tadcaster was in constant attendance on Rosa。 She was
languid； but gentle and kind； and； as mourners； like invalids； are
apt to be egotistical； she saw nothing but that he was a comfort to
her in her affliction。
While matters were so； the Earl of Miltshire； who had long been
sinking； died； and Tadcaster succeeded to his honors and estates。
Rosa heard of it； and； thinking it was a great bereavement； wrote
him one of those exquisite letters of condolence a lady alone can
write。 He took it to Lady Cicely； and showed it her。 She highly
approved it。
He said； 〃The only thingit makes me ashamed； I do not feel my
poor father's death more； but you know it has been so long
expected。〃 Then he was silent a long time； and then he asked her
if such a woman as that would not make him happy； if he could win
her。
It was on her ladyship's tongue to say； 〃She did not make her first
happy；〃 but she forbore； and said coldly； that was maw than she
could say。
Tadcaster seemed disappointed by that； and by and by Cicely took
herself to task。 She asked herself what were Tadcaster's chances
in the lottery of wives。 The heavy army of scheming mothers； and
the light cavalry of artful daughters； rose before her cousinly and
disinterested eyes； and she asked herself what chance poor little
Tadcaster would have of catching a true love； with a hundred female
artists manoeuvring； wheeling； ambuscading； and charging upon his
wealth and titles。 She returned to the subject of her own accord；
and told him she saw but one objection to such a match： the lady
had a son by a man of rare merit and misfortune。 Could he； at his
age； undertake to be a father to that son？ 〃Othahwise；〃 said Lady
Cicely； 〃mark my words； you will quall over that poor child； and
you will have two to quall with； because I shall be on her side。〃
Tadcaster declared to her that child should be quite the opposite
of a bone of contention。 〃I have thought of that；〃 said he； 〃and I
mean to be so kind to that boy； I shall MAKE her love me for that。〃
On these terms Lady Cicely gave her consent。
Then he asked her should he write； or ask her in person。
Lady Cicely reflected。 〃If you write； I think she will say no。〃
〃But if I go？〃
〃Then； it will depend on how you do it。 Rosa Staines is a true
mourner。 Whatever you may think； I don't believe the idea of a
second union has ever entered her head。 But then she is very
unselfish： and she likes you better than any one else； I dare say。
I don't think your title or your money will weigh with her now。
But； if you show her your happiness depends on it； she may；
perhaps； cwy and sob at the very idea of it； and then； after all；
say； 'Well； why notif I can make the poor soul happy？'〃
So； on this advice； Tadcaster went down to Gravesend； and Lady
Cicely felt a certain self…satisfaction； for； her well…meant
interference having lost Rosa one husband； she was pleased to think
she had done something to give her another。
Lord Tadcaster came to Rosa Staines； he found her seated with her
head upon her white hand； thinking sadly of the past。
At sight of him in deep mourning； she started； and said； 〃Oh！〃
Then she said tenderly； 〃We are of one color now；〃 and gave him her
hand。
He sat down beside her； not knowing how to begin。
〃I am not Tadcaster now。 I am Earl of Miltshire。〃
〃Ah； yes； I forgot；〃 said she indifferently。
〃This is my first visit to any one in that character。〃
〃Thank you。〃
〃It is an awfully important visit to me。 I could not feel myself
independent； and able to secure your comfort and little Christie's；
without coming to the lady； the only lady I ever saw； thatoh；
Mrs。 StainesRosawho could see you； as I have donemingle his
tears with yours； as I have done； and not love you； and long to
offer you his love？〃
〃Love！ to me； a broken…hearted woman； with nothing to live for but
his memory and his child。〃
She looked at him with a sort of scared amazement。
〃His child shall be mine。 His memory is almost as dear to me as to
you。〃
〃Nonsense； child； nonsense！〃 said she； almost sternly。
〃Was he not my best friend？ Should I have the health I enjoy； or
even be alive； but for him？ Oh； Mrs。 StainesRosa； you will not
live all your life unmarried； and who will love you as I do？ You
are my first and only love。 My happiness depends on you。〃
〃Your