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〃Oh！ Mrs。 Staines； do you think me capable of feigningdon't you
see my love for you has taken you by surprise？ But how could I
visit youlook on youhear youmingle my regrets with yours；
yours were the deepest； of course； but mine were honest。〃
〃I believe it。〃 And she gave him her hand。 He held it； and kissed
it； and cried over it； as the young will； and implored her； on his
knees； not to condemn herself to life…long widowhood； and him to
despair。
Then she cried； too； but she was firm； and by degrees she made him
see that her heart was inaccessible。
Then at last he submitted with tearful eyes； but a valiant heart。
She offered friendship timidly。
But he was too much of a man to fall into that trap。 〃No；〃 he
said： 〃I could not； I could not。 Love or nothing。〃
〃You are right；〃 said she； pityingly。 〃Forgive me。 In my
selfishness and my usual folly； I did not see this coming on； or I
would have spared you this mortification。〃
〃Never mind that；〃 gulped the little earl。 〃I shall always be
proud I knew you； and proud I loved you； and offered you my hand。〃
Then the magnanimous little fellow blessed her； and left her； and
discontinued his visits。
Mr。 Lusignan found her crying； and got the truth out of her。 He
was in despair。 He remonstrated kindly； but firmly。 Truth compels
me to say that she politely ignored him。 He observed that
phenomenon； and said； 〃Very well then； I shall telegraph for Uncle
Philip。〃
〃Do；〃 said the rebel。 〃He is always welcome。〃
Philip； telegraphed； came down that evening； likewise his little
black bag。 He found them in the drawing…room： papa with the Pall
Mall Gazette； Rosa seated； sewing； at a lamp。 She made little
Christie's clothes herself；fancy that！
Having ascertained that the little boy was well； Philip； adroitly
hiding that he had come down torn with anxiety on that head；
inquired with a show of contemptuous indifference； whose cat was
dead。
〃Nobody's；〃 said Lusignan crossly。 Then he turned and pointed the
Gazette at his offspring。 〃Do you see that young lady stitching
there so demurely？〃
Philip carefully wiped and then put on his spectacles。
〃I see her；〃 said he。 〃She does look a little too innocent。 None
of them are really so innocent as all that。 Has she been swearing
at the nurse； and boxing her ears？〃
〃Worse than that。 She has been and refused the Earl of Tadcaster。〃
〃Refused himwhat！ has that little monkey had the audacity？〃
〃The condescension； you mean。 Yes。〃
〃And she has refused him？〃
〃And twenty thousand a year。〃
〃What immorality！〃
〃Worse。 What absurdity！〃
〃How is it to be accounted for？ Is it the old story？ 'I could
never love him。' No； that's inadequate； for they all love a title
and twenty thousand a year。〃
Rosa sewed on all this time in demure and absolute silence。
〃She ignores us；〃 said Philip。 〃It is intolerable。 She does not
appreciate our politeness in talking at her。 Let us arraign her
before our sacred tribunal； and have her into court。 Now；
mistress； the Senate of Venice is assembled； and you must be
pleased to tell us why you refused a title and twenty thousand a
year； with a small but symmetrical earl tacked on。〃
Rosa laid down her work； and said quietly； 〃Uncle； almost the last
words that passed between me and my Christopher； we promised each
other solemnly never to marry again till death should us part。 You
know how deep my sorrow has been that I can find so few wishes of
my lost Christopher to obey。 Well； to…day I have had an
opportunity at last。 I have obeyed my own lost one； it has cost me
a tear or two； but； for all that； it has given me one little gleam
of happiness。 Ah； foolish woman； that obeys too late！〃
And with this the tears began to run。
All this seemed a little too high…flown to Mr。 Lusignan。 〃There；〃
said he； 〃see on what a straw her mind turns。 So； but for that；
you would have done the right thing； and married the earl？〃
〃I dare say I shouldat the timeto stop his crying。〃
And with this listless remark she quietly took up her sewing again。
The sagacious Philip looked at her gravely。 He thought to himself
how piteous it was to see so young and lovely a creature； that had
given up all hope of happiness for herself。 These being his real
thoughts； he expressed himself as follows： 〃We had better drop this
subject； sir。 This young lady will take us potent； grave； and
reverend seignors out of our depth； if we don't mind。〃
But the moment he got her alone he kissed her paternally； and said；
〃Rosa； it is not lost on me； your fidelity to the dead。 As years
roll on； and your deep wound first closes； then skins； then heals〃
〃Ah； let me die first〃
〃Time and nature will absolve you from that vow； but bless you for
thinking this can never be。 Rosa； your folly of this day has made
you my heir； so never let money tempt you； for you have enough； and
will have more than enough when I go。〃
He was as good as his word； altered his will next day； and made
Rosa his residuary legatee。 When he had done this； foreseeing no
fresh occasion for his services； he prepared for a long visit to
Italy。 He was packing up his things to go there； when he received
a line from Lady Cicely Treherne； asking him to call on her
professionally。 As the lady's servant brought it； he sent back a
line to say he no longer practised medicine； but would call on her
as a friend in an hour's time。
He found her reclining； the picture of lassitude。 〃How good of you
to come；〃 she drawled。
〃What's the matter？〃 said he brusquely。
〃I wish to cawnsult you about myself。 I think if anybody can
brighten me up； it is you。 I feel such a languawsuch a want of
spirit； and I get palaa； and that is not desiwable。〃
He examined her tongue and the white of her eye； and told her； in
his blunt way； she ate and drank too much。
〃Excuse me； sir；〃 said she stiffly。
〃I mean too often。 Now； let's see。 Cup of tea in bed； of a
morning？〃
〃Yaas。〃
〃Dinner at two？〃
〃We call it luncheon。〃
〃Are you a ventriloquist？〃
〃No。〃
〃Then it is only your lips call it luncheon。 Your poor stomach；
could it speak； would call it dinner。 Afternoon tea？〃
〃Yaas。〃
〃At seven…thirty another dinner。 Tea after that。 Your afflicted
stomach gets no rest。 You eat pastry？〃
〃I confess it。〃
〃And sugar in a dozen forms？〃
She nodded。
〃Well； sugar is poison to your temperament。 Now I'll set you up；
if you can obey。 Give up your morning dram。〃
〃What dwam？〃
〃Tea in bed； before eating。 Can't you see that is a dram？ Animal
food twice a day。 No wine but a little claret and water； no
pastry； no sweets； and play battledore with one of your male
subjects。〃
〃Battledaw！ won't a lady do for that？〃
〃No： you would get talking； and not play ad sudorem。〃
〃Ad sudawem！ what is that？〃
〃In earnest。〃
〃And will sudawem and the west put me in better spiwits； and give
me a tinge？〃
〃It will incarnadine the lily； and make you the happiest young lady
in England； as you are the best。〃
〃I should like to be much happier than I am good； if we could
manage it among us。〃
〃We will manage it AMONG us； for if the d