第2章
Havinginstalledherself，withfeminineinstinct，inacrimsoncouchthatframedhertoperfection，ZoeVizardwasatworkembroidering。Shehadsomeflowers，andtheirleaves，lyingnearheronalittletable，and，withcoloredsilks，chenille，etc。，sheimitatedeachfloweranditsleafveryadroitlywithoutapattern。Thiswasclever，and，indeed，ratherararetalent；butsheloweredherheadoverthisworkwithademure，beamingcomplacencyembroideryaloneneveryetexcitedwithoutexternalassistance。Accordingly，onalargestool，orlittleottoman，atherfeet，butatarespectfuldistance，satayoungman，almosthermatchinbeauty，thoughinquiteanotherstyle。Inheightaboutfivefeetten，broad-shouldered，clean-built，amodelofstrength，agility，andgrace。
Hisfacefair，fresh，andhealthy-looking；hislargeeyeshazel；thecrispcurlinghaironhisshapelyheadawonderfulbrowninthemass，butwithonethinstreakofgoldabovetheforehead，andalltheloosehairsglitteringgolden。Ashortclippedmustachesavedhimfromlookingtoofeminine，yetdidnothidehisexpressivemouth。Hehadwhitehands，assoftandsuppleasawoman"s，amellowvoice，andawinningtongue。ThisdangerousyounggentlemanwasgazingsoftlyonZoeVizardandpurringinherear；andshewasconsciousofhisgazewithoutlookingathim，andwassippingthehoney，andshowedit，byseemingmoreabsorbedinherworkthangirlseverreallyare。
Matters，however，hadnotgoneopenlyveryfar。Shewasstillonherdefense:so，afterimbibinghisflatteriesdemurelyalongtime，shediscovered，allinonemoment，thattheywereobjectionable。"Dearme，Mr。Severne，"saidshe，"youdonothingbutpaycompliments。"
"HowcanIhelpit，sittinghere?"inquiredhe。
"There——there，"saidshe:then，quietly，"Doesitneveroccurtoyouthatonlyfoolishpeoplearepleasedwithflatteries?"
"Ihaveheardthat；butIdon"tbelieveit。Iknowitmakesmeawfullyhappywheneveryousayakindwordofme。"
"Thatisfarfromprovingyourwisdom，"saidZoe；"and，insteadofdwellingonmyperfections，whichdonotexist，Iwishyouwould_tell_
methings。"
"Whatthings?"
"HowcanItelltillIhearthem?Well，then，thingsaboutyourself。"
"Thatisapoorsubject。"
"Letmebethejudge。"
"Oh，therearelotsoffellowswhoarealwaystalkingaboutthemselves:
letmebeanexception。"
ThisanswerpuzzledZoe，andshewassilent，andputonacoldlook。Shewasnotaccustomedtoberefusedanythingreasonable。
Severneexaminedherclosely，andsawhewasexpectedtoobeyher。Hethenresolvedtoprepare，inadayortwo，anautobiographyfullofdetailsthatshouldsatisfyZoe"scuriosity，andwinheradmirationandherlove。Buthecouldnotdoitallinamoment，becausehismemoryofhisreallifeobstructedhisfancy。Meantimeheoperatedadiversion。Hesaid，"Setapoorfellowanexample。Tellmesomethingabout_yourself——_sinceIhavethebadtaste，andthepresumption，tobeinterestedinyou，andcan"thelpit。DidyouspringfromthefoamoftheArchipelago?orareyoudescendedfromBacchusandAriadne?"
"Ifyouwantsensibleanswers，asksensiblequestions，"saidZoe，tryingtofrownhimdownwithherblackbrows；buthersweetcheekwouldtintitself，andhersweetmouthsmileandexposemuchintercoralivory。
"Well，then，"saidhe，"Iwillaskyouaprosaicquestion，andIonlyhopeyouwon"tthinkitimpertinent。How——ever——didsuchastrangelyassortedpartyasyourscometotraveltogether?AndifVizardhasturnedwoman-hater，ashepretends，howcomeshetobeattheheadofafemalepartywhoarenot_all_ofthem——"hehesitated。
"Goon，Mr。Severne；notallofthemwhat?"saidZoe，preparedtostandupforhersex。
"Notperfect?"
"Thatisaverycautiousstatement，and——there——youareasslipperyasaneel；thereisnogettingholdofyou。Well，nevermind，Iwillsetyouanexampleofcommunicativeness，andrevealthismysteryhiddenasyetfrommankind。"
"Speak，dreadqueen；thyservantheareth。"
"Ha!ha!ha!Mr。Severne，youamuse_me。"_
"Youonlyinterest_me，"_wasthesoftreply。
Zoeblushedpink，butturneditoff。"Thenwhydoyounotattendtomyinterestingnarrative，insteadof——Well，then，itbeganwithmyaskingthedearfellowtotakemeatour，especiallytoRome。"
"Youwantedtoseethestatuesofyourancestors，andshamethem。"
"Muchobliged；Iwasnotquitesuchagoose。IwantedtoseetheTiber，andtheColosseum，andTrajan"sPillar，andtheTarpeianRock，andtheoneeverlastingcitythatbindsancientandmodernhistorytogether。"
Sheflashedhergreateyesonhim，andhewasdumb。Shehadrisenabovetheregionofhisideas。Havingsilencedhercommentator，shereturnedtoherstory，"Well，dearHarringtonsaid"yes"directly。SothenItoldFanny，andshesaid，"Oh，dotakemewithyou?"Now，ofcourseIwasonlytoogladtohaveFanny；sheismyrelation，andmyfriend。"
"Happygirl!"
"Bequiet，please。SoIaskedHarringtontoletmehaveFannywithus，andyoushouldhaveseenhisface。What，hetravelwithacoupleofus!
He——Idon"tseewhyIshouldtellyouwhatthemonstersaid。"
"Oh，yes，pleasedo。"
"Youwon"tgotellinganybodyelse，then?"
"Notalivingsoul，uponmyhonor。"
"Well，then，"hesaid——shebegantoblushlikearose——"thathelookedonmeasamerefemaleinembryo；Ihadnotyetdevelopedthevicesofmysex。ButFannyDoverwasaripeflirt，andshewouldsetmeflirting，andhowcouldhemanagethepair?Inshort，sir，herefusedtotakeus，andgavehisreasons，suchastheywere，poordear!ThenIhadtotellFanny。
Thenshebegantocry，andtoldmetogowithouther。ButIwouldnotdothat，whenIhadonceaskedher。Thensheclungroundmyneck，andkissedme，andbeggedmetobecrossandsullen，andtireoutdearHarrington。"
"Thatislikeher。"
"Howdoyouknow?"saidZoesharply。
"Oh，Ihavestudiedhercharacter。"
"When，pray?"saidZoe，ironically，yetblushingalittle，becausehersecretmeaningwas，"Youarealwaysatmyapronstrings，andhavenotimetofathomFanny。"
"WhenIhavenothingbettertodo——whenyouareoutoftheroom。"
"Well，Ishallbeoutoftheroomverysoon，ifyousayanotherword。"
"Andservemeright，too。Iamafooltotalkwhenyouallowmetolisten。"
"Heisincorrigible!"saidZoe，pathetically。"Well，then，IrefusedtopoutatHarrington。Itisnotasifhehadnoreasontodistrustwomen，poordeardarling。IinvitedFannytostayamonthwithus；and，whenonceshewasinthehouse，shesoongotoverme，andpersuadedmetoplaysad，andshowedmehowtodoit。Soweworelongfaces，andsweetresignation，andwerenevercross，butkeptturningtearfuleyesuponourvictim。"
"Ha!ha!HowabsurdofVizardtotellyouthattwowomenwouldbetoomuchforoneman。"
"No，itwasthetruth；andgirlsareartfulcreatures，especiallywhentheyputtheirheadstogether。Butheartheendofallourcunning。Oneday，afterdinner，Harringtonaskedustositoppositehim；sowedid，andfeltguilty。Hesurveyedusinsilencealittlewhile，andthenhesaid，"Myyoungfriends，youhaveplayedyourlittlegameprettywell，especiallyyou，Zoe，thatareanoviceinthefineartscomparedwithMissDover。"Histrionictalentoughttoberewarded；hewouldrelent，andtakeusabroad，ononecondition:theremustbeachaperone。"Allthebetter，"saidwehypocrites，eagerly；"andwho?""
""Oh，apersonequaltotheoccasion——anoldmaidasbitteragainstmenasevergrapesweresour。Shewouldfollowusupstairs，downstairs，andintomylady"schamber。Shewouldhaveaneyeatthekey-holebyday，andanearbynight，whenwewentuptobedandtalkedovertheeventsofourfrivolousday。"Inshort，heenumeratedourduenna"sperfectionstillourbloodrancold；anditwaseversolongbeforehewouldtelluswhoitwas——AuntMaitland。Wescreamedwithsurprise。Theyarelikecatanddog，andneveragree，excepttodiffer。Wesoughtanexplanationofthisstrangechoice。Heobligedus。Itwasnotforhisgratificationhetooktheoldcat；itwasforus。Shewouldrelievehimofavastresponsibility。Thevicesofhercharacterwouldprovetoostrongforthelittlefaultsofours，whichwereonlyvolatility，frivolity，flirtation——Iwill_not_tellyouwhathesaid。"
"IseemtohearHarringtontalking，"saidSeverne。"Whatonearthmakeshimsoharduponwomen?Wouldyoumindtellingmethat?"
"Neveraskmethatquestionagain，"saidZoe，withsuddengravity。
"Well，Iwon"t；I"llgetitoutofhim。"
"Ifyousayawordtohimaboutit，Ishallbeshockedandoffended。"
Shewaspaleandredbyturns；butSevernebowedhisheadwitharespectfulsubmissionthatdisarmedherdirectly。Sheturnedherheadaway，andSeverne，watchingher，sawhereyesfill。
"Howisit，"saidshethoughtfully，andlookingawayfromhim，"thatmenleaveouttheirsisterswhentheysumupwomankind?Arenotwewomentoo?
Mypoorbrotherquiteforgetshehasonewomanwhowillnever，neverdesertnordeceivehim；dear，darlingfellow!"andwiththesethreelastwordssheroseandkissedthetipsofherfingers，andwavedthekisstoVizardwiththatfreemagnitudeofgesturewhichbelongedtoantiquity:
itstrucktheAnglo-Saxonflirtatherfeetwithamazement。Nothavinggoodenoughunderhisskintosympathizewiththatpiousimpulse，hefirststagnatedalittlewhile；andthen，nottobesilentaltogether，madehislittle，stale，commonplacecommentonwhatshehadtoldhim。
"Why，itislikeanovel。"
"Averyunromanticone，"repliedZoe。
"Idon"tknowthat。Ihavereadveryinterestingnovelswithfewernewcharactersthanthis:there"sadarkbeauty，andafair，andaduennawithaneagleeyeandanaquilinenose。"
"Hush!"saidZoe:"thatisherroom；"andpointedtoachamberdoorthatopenedintotheapartment。
Oh，marvelousfemaleinstinct!Theduennainchargewasatthatmomentbehindthatverydoor，andhereyeandherearatthekey-hole，turnabout。
Severnecontinuedhisremarks，butinalowervoice。
"Thenthere"sawoman-haterandaman-hater:goodfordialogue。"
NowthisbanterdidnotpleaseZoe；soshefixedhereyesuponSeverne，andsaid，"Youforgettheprincipalfigure——amysteriousyounggentlemanwholooksnineteen，andistwenty-nine，andwaslostsightofinEnglandnineyearsago。Hehasbeentravelingeversince，andwhere-everhewentheflirted；wegathersomuchfromhisaccomplishmentintheart；fluent，nottosayvolubleattimes，butnoegotist，forhenevertellsyouanythingabouthimself，norevenabouthisfamily，stilllessaboutthenumerous_affairesdecoeur_inwhichhehasbeenengaged。Perhapsheisreservingitallforthethirdvolume。"
Theattackwasstrongandsudden，butitfailed。Severne，withinthelimitsofhisexperience，wasaconsummateartist，andthissituationwasnotnewtohim。Hecastonegentlyreproachfulglanceonher，thenloweredhiseyestothecarpet，andkeptthemthere。"Doyouthink，"saidhe，inalow，dejectedvoice，"itcanbeanypleasuretoamantorelatethefolliesofanidle，aimlesslife?andtoyou，whohavegivenmehigheraspirations，andmademeawfullysorry，Icannotlivemywholelifeoveragain。Ican"tbeartothinkoftheyearsIhavewasted，"saidhe；"andhowcanItalktoyou，whomIreverence，ofthepastfolliesI
despise?No，praydon"taskmetoriskyouresteem。Itissodeartome。"
Thenthisartistputinpracticealittlemaneuverhehadlearnedofcompressinghismusclesandforcingalittleunwillingwaterintohiseyes。So，attheendofhisprettylittlespeech，heraisedtwogentle，imploringeyes，withhalfatearineachofthem。Tobesure，Natureassistedhisartforonce；hedidbitterlyregret，butoutofpureegotism，theyearshehadwasted，andwishedwithallhishearthehadneverknownanywomanbutZoeVizard。
ThecombinationofartandsinceritywastoomuchfortheguilelessandinexperiencedZoe。Shewasgrievedatthepainshehadgiven，androsetoretire，forshefelttheywerebothondangerousground；but，assheturnedaway，shemadealittle，deprecatinggesture，andsaid，softly，"Forgiveme。"
ThatsofttonegaveSevernecourage，andthatgesturegavehimanopportunity。Heseizedherhand，murmured，"Angelofgoodness!"andbestowedalong，lovingkissonherhandthatmadeitquiverunderhislips。
"Oh!"criedMissMaitland，burstingintotheroomatthenickoftime，yetfeigningamazement。
Fannyheardtheejaculations，andwhippedawayfromHarringtonintothewindow。Zoe，withnomotivebutherowncoyness，hadalreadysnatchedherhandawayfromSeverne。
Butbothyoungladieswereonemomenttoolate。Theeagleeyeofaterribleoldmaidhadembracedtheentiresituation，andtheysawithad。
HarringtonVizard，Esq。，smokedon，withhisbacktothegroup。Buttherestwereapicture——themutinousfaceandkeeneyesofFannyDover，bristlingwithdefense，atthewindow；Zoeblushingcrimson，andnewlystartedawayfromhertoo-enterprisingwooer；andthetall，thin，grimoldmaid，standingstiff，assentinel，atthebedroomdoor，andgimletingbothherchargesalternatelywithsteel-grayorbs；sheseemedlikeanowl，alleyesandbeak。
Whenthechaperonhadfixedthesituationthoroughly，shestalkederectintotheroom，andsaid，veryexpressively，"IamafraidIdisturbyou。"
Zoe，fromcrimson，blushedscarlet，andhungherhead；butFannywasready。
"La!aunt，"saidshe，ironically，andwithpertnessinfinite，"youknowyouarealwayswelcome。Whereeverhaveyoubeenallthistime?Wewereafraidwehadlostyou。"
Auntfiredherpistolinreply:"Iwasnotfaroff——mostfortunately。"
Zoe，findingthat，evenundercrushingcircumstances，Fannyhadfightinher，glidedinstantlytoherside，andAuntMaitlandopenedbattleallround。
"MayIask，sir，"saidshetoSeverne，withahorriblesmile，"whatyouweredoingwhenIcamein?"
ZoeclutchedFanny，andbothawaitedMr。Severne"sreplyforonemomentwithkeenanxiety。
"MydearMissMaitland，"saidthatableyoungman，veryrespectfully，yetwithasortofcheerfulreadiness，asifheweredelightedatherdeigningtoquestionhim，"totellyouthetruth，IwasadmiringMissVizard"sdiamondring。"
Fannytittered；Zoeblushedagainatsuchafibandsuch_aplomb。_
"Oh，indeed，"saidMissMaitland；"youwereadmiringitveryclose，sir。"
"Itislikeherself——itwillbearinspection。"
ThiswaswormwoodtoMissMaitland。"Eveninourasheslivetheirwontedfires；"and，thoughshewassixty，shedislikedtohearayoungwomanpraised。Shebridled，thenreturnedtotheattack。
"Nexttimeyouwishtoinspectit，youhadbetteraskher_totakeitoff，_andshowyou。"
"MayI，MissMaitland?"inquiredtheingenuousyouth。"Shewouldnotthinkthataliberty?"
Hismildeffronterystaggeredherforamoment，andsheglaredathim，speechless，butsoonrecovered，andsaid，bitterly，"Evidently_not。"_
Withthissheturnedherbackonhimratherungraciously，andopenedfireonherownsex。
"Zoe!"(sharply)。
"Yes，aunt"(faintly)。
"Tellyourbrother——ifhecanleaveoffsmoking——Iwishtospeaktohim。"
Zoehungherhead，andwasinnohurrytobringabouttheproposedconference。
Whileshedeliberated，saysFanny，withvastalacrity，"I"lltellhim，aunt。"
"Oh，Fanny!"murmuredZoe，inareproachfulwhisper。
"Allright!"whisperedFannyinreply，andwhippedoutontothebalcony。
"Here"sAuntMaitlandwantstoknowifyoueverleaveoffsmoking；"andshethrewamostaggressivemannerintothequery。
Thebigmanreplied，composedly，"TellherIdo——atmealsandprayers；
butIalways_sleep_withapipeinmymouth——heavilyinsured!"
"Well，then，youmustn"t；forshehassomethingveryparticulartosaytoyouwhenyou"vedonesmoking。"
"Somethingparticular!Thatmeanssomethingdisagreeable。TellherI
shallbesmokingalldayto-day。"
Fannydancedintotheroomandsaid，"Hesaysheshallbesmokingallday，_underthecircumstances。"_
MissMaitlandgavethisfaithfulmessengerthelookofabasilisk，andflouncedtoherownroom。Theyoungladiesinstantlysteppedoutonthebalcony，andgotoneoneachsideofHarrington，withthefeminineinstinctofpropitiation；fortheyfeltsuretheenemywouldtell，soonorlate。
"Whatdoestheoldcatwanttotalktomeabout?"saidHarrington，lazily，toFanny。
ItwasZoewhoreplied:
"Can"tyouguess，dear?"saidshe，tenderly——"ourmisconduct。"Thensheputherheadonhisshoulder，asmuchastosay，"Butwehaveamorelenientjudgehere。"
"AsifIcouldnotsee_that_withoutherassistance!"saidHarringtonVizard。(Puff!)AtwhichcomfortablereplyZoelookedveryrueful，andFannyburstoutlaughing。
SoonafterthisFannygaveZoealook，andtheyretiredtotheirrooms；
andZoesaidshewouldnevercomeoutagain，andFannymuststaywithher。Fannyfeltsure_ennui_wouldthawthatresolveinafewhours；soshesubmitted，butdeclareditwasabsurd，andtheverywaytogiveaperfecttrifleimportance。
"Kissyourhand!"saidshe，disdainfully——"thatisnothing。IfIwastheman，I"dhavekissedbothyourcheekslongbeforethis。"
"AndIshouldhaveboxedyourearsandmadeyoucry，"saidZoe，withcalmsuperiority。
Soshehadherway，andthedesertedSevernefeltdull，butwastoogoodageneraltoshowit。HebestowedhiswelcomecompanyonMr。Vizard，walkedwithhim，talkedwithhim，andmadehimselfsoagreeable，thatVizard，whoadmiredhimgreatly，saidtohim，"Whatagoodfellowyouare，tobestowyoursunshineonme。Ibegantobeafraidthosegirlshadgotyou，andtiedyoutotheirapron-stringsaltogether。"
"Oh，no!"saidSeverne:"theyarecharming；but，afterall，onecan"tdowithoutamalefriend:therearesofewthingsthatinterestladies。
Unlessyoucantalkred-hotreligion，youareboundtoflirtwiththemalittle。Tobesure，theylookshy，ifyoudo，butifyoudon"t——"
"They_are_bored；whereastheyonly_looked_shy。Iknow"em。Callanothersubject，please。"
"Well，Iwill；butperhapsitmaynotbesoagreeableaone。"
"Thatisveryunlikely，"saidthewoman-hater，dryly。
"Well，itisTin。I"mrathershort。Yousee，whenIfellinwithyouatMonaco，Ihadnoideaofcomingthisway；but，meetingwithanoldcollegefriend——whatatiecollegeis，isn"tit?Thereisnothinglikeit；whenyouhavebeenatcollegewithaman，youseemnevertowearhimout，asyoudotheacquaintancesyoumakeafterward。"
"Thatisverytrue，"saidVizardwarmly。
"Isn"tit?Now，forinstance，ifIhadonlyknownyouoflateyears，I
shouldfeelawfullyshyofborrowingafewhundredsofyou——foramonthortwo。"
"Idon"tknowwhyyoushould，oldfellow。"
"Ishould，though。Buthavingbeenatcollegetogethermakesallthedifference。Idon"tmindtellingyouthatIhaveneverbeenatHomburgwithouttakingaturnatthetable，andIamgrizzlingawfullynowatnothavingsenttomymanofbusinessforfunds。"
"Howmuchdoyouwant?Thatistheonlyquestion。"
"Gladtohearit，"thoughtSeverne。"Well，letmesee，youcan"tbackyourluckwithlessthanfivehundred。"
"Well，butwehavebeenouttwomonths；IamafraidIhaven"tsomuchleft。Justletmesee。"Hetookouthispocket-book，andexaminedhisletterofcredit。"Doyouwantitto-day?"
"Why，yes；Ido。"
"Well，then，Iamafraidyoucanonlyhavethreehundred。ButIwilltelegraphHerries，andfundswillbehereto-morrowafternoon。"
"Allright，"saidSeverne。
Vizardtookhimtothebank，andexhaustedhisletterofcredit:thentothetelegraph-office，andtelegraphedHerriestoenlargehiscreditatonce。HehandedSevernethethreehundredpounds。Theyoungman"seyeflashed，anditcosthimaneffortnottosnatchthemandwavethemoverhisheadwithjoy:buthecontrolledhimself，andtookthemliketwo-pence-halfpenny。"Thankyou，oldfellow，"saidhe。Then，stillmorecarelessly，"LikemyIOU?"
"Asyouplease，"saidVizard，withsimilarindifference；onlyreal。
Afterhehadgotthemoney，Severne"sconversationalpowersrelaxed——shortanswers——longreveries。
Vizardobserved，stoppedshort，andeyedhim。"IremembersomethingatOxford，andIamafraidyouareagambler；ifyouare，youwon"tbegoodformuchtillyouhavelostthatthreehundred。Itwillbeadulleveningformewithoutyou:IknowwhatI"lldo——I"lltakemyhen-partytotheoperaatHomburg。Therearestallstobegothere。I"llgetoneforyou，onthechanceofyourdroppingin。"
Thestallswerepurchased，andthefriendsreturnedatoncetothehotel，togivetheladiestimelyintimation。TheyfoundFannyandZoeseated，ratherdisconsolate，intheapartmentZoehadformallyrenounced:atsightofthestalltickets，thepairutteredjoyfulcries，lookedateachother，andvanished。
"Youwon"tsee_them_anymoretilldinner-time，"saidVizard。"Theywillbediscussingdress，selectingdress，tryingdresses，andchangingdresses，forthenextthreehours。"Heturnedroundwhilespeaking，andtherewasSeverneslippingawaytohisownbedroom。
Thusdesertedonallsides，hesteppedintothebalconyandlightedacigar。Whilehewassmokingit，heobservedanEnglishgentleman，withastalwartfigureandabeautifulbrownbeard，standingonthestepsofthehotel。"Halloo!"saidhe，andhailedhim。"Hi，Uxmoor!isthatyou?"
LordUxmoorlookedup，andknewhim。Heenteredthehotel，andthenextminutethewaiterusheredhimintoVizard"ssitting-room。
LordUxmoor，likeMr。Vizard，wasalandedproprietorinBarfordshire。
Thecountyislarge，andtheylivedtoomanymilesaparttovisit；buttheymet，andagreed，atelectionsandcountybusiness，andhadarespectforeachother。
MeetingatFrankfort，thesetwofoundplentytosaytoeachotherabouthome；andasLordUxmoorwasalone，Vizardaskedhimtodine。"Youwillbalanceus，"saidhe:"weareterriblyoverpetticoated，andoneofthemisanoldmaid。Wegenerallydineatthe_table-d"hote，_butIhaveordereddinner_here_to-day:wearegoingtotheoperaatHomburg。Youarenotobligedtodothat，youknow。Youareinforabaddinner，thatisall。"
"Totellthetruth，"saidLordUxmoor，"Idon"tcareformusic。"
"Thenyoudeserveastatuefornotpretendingtoloveit。Iadoreit，formypart，andIwishIwasgoingalone，formyhenswillbesuretocackle_mal"apropos，_andspoilsomefamousmelodywithtalkingaboutit，andwhosungitinLondon，insteadoflisteningtoit，andthankingGodforitindeepsilence。"
LordUxmoorstaredalittleatthissuddensally，forhewasunacquaintedwithVizard"soneeccentricity，havingmethimonlyoncountybusiness，atwhichhewasextrarational，andpassedforagreatscholar。Hereallydidsuckgoodbooksaswellascigars。
Afterafewmorewords，theypartedtilldinner-time。
LordUxmoorcametohisappointment，andfoundhishostandMissMaitland，whomheknew；andhewasinlanguidconversationwiththem，whenaside-dooropened，andinwalkedFannyDover，fairandbright，inCambridgeblue，herhairwelldressedbyZoe"smaidinthestyleoftheday。LordUxmoorrose，andreceivedhisfaircountry-womanwithrespectfulzeal；hehadmetheroncebefore。She，too，sparkledwithpleasureatmeetingaBarfordshiresquirewithalongpedigree，purse，andbeard——threethingssheadmiredgreatly。
Inthemidstofthis，inglidedZoe，andseemedtoextinguisheverybody，andeventopalethelights，withherdarkyetsunlikebeauty。Shewasdressedinacreamy-whitesatinthatglintedlikemother-of-pearl，itssheenandgloryunfritteredwithasingleidiotictrimming；onherbreastalargediamondcross。HerheadwasanAtheniansculpture——nochignon，butthetightcoilsofantiquity；attheirside，onediamondstarsparkledvividflame，byitscontrastwiththosepolishedebonsnakes。
LordUxmoorwasdazzled，transfixed，atthevision，andbowedverylowwhenVizardintroducedhiminanoff-handway，saying，"Mysister，MissVizard；butIdaresayyouhavemetheratthecountyballs。"
"Ihaveneverbeensofortunate，"saidUxmoor，humbly。
"Ihave，"saidZoe；"thatis，IsawyouwaltzingwithLadyBettyGoreattheraceballtwoyearsago。"
"What!"saidVizard，alarmed。"Uxmoor，wereyouwaltzingwithLadyBettyGore?"
"Youhaveitontoohighanauthorityformetocontradict。"
FindingZoewastobetrustedasacountychronicle，Vizardturnedsharplytoher，andsaid，"Andwasheflirtingwithher?"
Zoecoloredalittle，andsaid，"Now，Harrington，howcanItell?"
"Youlittlehypocrite，"saidVizard，"whocantellbetter?
AtthisretortZoeblushedhigh，andthewatercameintohereyes。
NobodymindedthatbutUxmoor，andVizardwentontoexplain，"ThatLadyBettyGoreisasheartlessacoquetteasanyinthecounty；anddon"tyouflirtwithher，oryouwillgetentangled。"
"Youdisapproveher，"saidUxmoor，coolly；"thenIgiveherupforever。"
HelookedatZoewhilehesaidthis，andfelthoweasyitwouldbetoresignLadyBettyandagreatmanymoreforthispeerlesscreature。Hedidnotmeanhertounderstandwhatwaspassinginhismind；hedidnotknowhowsubtleandobservantthemostinnocentgirlisinsuchmatters。
Zoeblushed，anddrewawayfromhim。JustthenNedSevernecamein，andVizardintroducedhimtoUxmoorwithgreatgenialityandpride。Thecharmingyoungmanwasinablacksurtout，withabluescarf，theverytintforhiscomplexion。
Thegirlslookedatoneanother，andinamomentFannywaselectedZoe"sagent。ShesignaledSeverne，andwhenhecametohershesaid，forZoe，"Don"tyouknowwearegoingtotheoperaatHomburg?"
"Yes，Iknow，"saidhe，"andIhopeyouwillhaveapleasantereveningthanIshall。"
"Youarenotcomingwithus?"
"No，"saidhe，sorrowfully。
"Youhadbetter，"saidFanny，withadealofquietpoint，more，indeed，thanZoe"sprideapproved。
"NotifMr。Severnehassomethingmoreattractive，"saidshe，turningpalishandpinkishbyturns。
Allthiswenton_sottovoce，_andUxmoor，outofgood-breeding，enteredintoconversationwithMissMaitlandandVizard。Severneavailedhimselfofthisdiversion，andfixedhiseyesonZoewithanairofgentlereproach，thentookaletteroutofhispocket，andhandedittoFanny。
Shereadit，andgaveittoZoe。
Itwasdatedfrom"TheGoldenStar，"Homburg。
"DEARNED——Iamworseto-day，andallalone。NowandthenIalmostfearI
maynotpullthrough。Butperhapsthatisthroughbeingsohipped。Docomeandspendthiseveningwithmelikeagood，kindfellow。
"Telegraphreply。