第3章

S。T。"

"Poorfellow，"saidNed；"myheartbleedsforhim。"

Zoewasaffectedbythis，andturnedliquidandlovingeyeson"dearNed。"ButFannystoodherground。"Goto"S。T。"to-morrowmorning，butdon"tdesert"Z。V。"and"F。D。"to-night。"Zoesmiled。

"ButIhavetelegraphed!"objectedNed。

"Thentelegraphagain——_not，"_saidFannyfirmly。

Now，thiswasunexpected。Severnehadsethisheartupon_rougeetnoir，_

butstillhewasafraidofoffendingZoe；and，besides，hesawUxmoor，withhisnoblebeardandbrowneyes，castingrapturousglancesather。

"LetMissVizarddecide，"saidhe。"Don"tletmebesounhappyastooffendhertwiceinoneday。"

Zoe"sprideandgoodnessdictatedheranswer，inspiteofherwishes。Shesaid，inalowvoice，"Gotoyoursickfriend。"

"There，"saidSeverne。

"Ihear，"saidFanny。"Shemeans"go；"butyoushallrepentit。"

"ImeanwhatIsay，"saidZoe，withrealdignity。"Itismyhabit。"Andthenextmomentshequietlylefttheroom。

Shesatdowninherbedroom，mortifiedandalarmed。What!Haditcometothis，thatshefeltherheartturncoldjustbecausethatyoungmansaidhecouldnotaccompanyher——onasingleevening!Thenfirstshediscoveredthatitwasforhimshehaddressed，andhad，foronce，beautifiedherbeauty——for_him；_thatwithFannyshehaddweltuponthedelightsofthemusic，buthadsecretlythoughtofappearingpubliclyon_his_arm，anddazzlingpeoplebytheirunitedandcontrastedbeauty。

Sherose，allofasudden，andlookedkeenlyatherselfintheglass，toseeifshehadnotsomehowoverratedherattractions。Buttheglasswasreassuring。Ittoldhernotonemaninamillioncouldgotoasickfriendthatnight，whenhemightpasstheeveningbyherside，andvisithisfriendearlyinthemorning。Bestlovedisbestserved。Tearsofmortifiedvanitywereinhereyes；butshesmiledthroughthemattheglass；thendriedthemcarefully，andwentbacktothedining-roomradiant，toallappearance。

Dinnerwasjustserved，andherbrother，todohonortothenew-comer，wavedhissistertoaseatbyLordUxmoor。Helookedcharmedatthearrangement，andshowedagreatdesiretopleaseher，butatfirstwasunabletofindgoodtopics。Afterseveraltimidoverturesonhispart，sheassistedhim，outofgood-nature，Sheknewbyreportthathewasaverybenevolentyoungman，bentonimprovingthehome，habits，wages，andcomfortsoftheagriculturalpoor。Sheledhimtothis，andhiseyessparkledwithpleasure，andhishomelybutmanlyfacelighted，andwaselevatedbythesympathysheexpressedintheseworthyobjects。Hecouldnothelpthinking:"WhataLadyUxmoorthiswouldmake!SheandIandherbrothermightleaventhecounty。"

AndallthistimeshewouldnotevenbestowaglanceonSeverne。Shewasnotanangel。Shehadsaid，"Gotoyoursickfriend；"butshehadnotsaid，"Iwillsmartaloneifyou_do。"_

SevernesatbyFanny，andseemeddejected，but，asusual，politeandcharming。Shewassmilinglycruel；regaledhimwithLordUxmoor"swealthandvirtues，andsaidhewasanexcellentmatch，andallshe-Barfordshirepullingcapsforhim。Severneonlysighed；heofferednoresistance；andatlastshecouldnotgoonnaggingahandsomefellow，whoonlysighed，soshesaid，"Well，_there；_Iadviseyoutojoinusbeforetheoperaisover，thatisall。"

"Iwill，Iwill!"saidhe，eagerly。"Oh，thankyou。"

Dinnerwasdispatchedratherrapidly，becauseoftheopera。

Whentheladiesgottheircloaksandlacescarfs，toputovertheirheadscominghome，thepartyprovedtobeonlythree，andtheticketsfive；forMissMaitlandpleadedheadache。

Onthis，LordUxmoorsaid，rathertimidly，heshouldliketogo。

"Why，yousaidyouhatedmusic，"saidVizard。

LordUxmoorcolored。"Irecant，"saidhe，bluntly；andeverybodysawwhathadoperatedhisconversion。Thatisapun。

Itishalfanhour，byrail，fromFrankforttoHomburg，andthepartycouldnotbeseatedtogether。VizardbestowedZoeandLordUxmoorinonecarriage，FannyandSeverneinanother，andhimselfandacigarinthethird。SevernesatgazingpiteouslyonFannyDover，butneversaidaword。Shesatandeyedhimsatiricallyforagoodwhile，andthenshesaid，cheerfully，"Well，Mr。Severne，howdoyouliketheturnthingsaretaking?"

"MissDover，Iamveryunhappy。"

"Servesyouright。"

"Oh，praydon"tsaythat。ItisonyouIdepend。"

"Onme，sir!WhathaveItodowithyourflirtations?"

"No；butyouaresoclever，andsogood。Ifforonceyouwilltakeapoorfellow"spartwithMissVizard，behindmyback；oh，pleasedo——praydo，"

and，intheardorofentreaty，hecaughtFanny"swhitehandandkisseditwithwarmbutrespectfuldevotion。Indeed，hehelditandkisseditagainandagain，tillFanny，thoughshemindeditnomorethanmarble，wasgoingtoaskhimsatiricallywhetherhehadnotalmostdonewithit，whenatlasthecontrivedtosqueezeoutoneofhislittlehystericaltears，anddropitonherhand。

Now，thegirlwasnotbutter，likesomeofhersex；farfromit:butneitherwasshewood——indeed，shewasnotoldenoughforthat——sothiscrocodiletearwonherforthetimebeing。"There——there，"saidshe；

"don"tbeababy。I"llbeonyoursidetonight；only，ifyoucareforher，comeandlookafterheryourself。Beautifulwomenwithmoneywon"tstandneglect，Mr。Severne；andwhyshouldthey?Theyarenotlikepoorme；theyhavegotthegameintheirhands。"Thetrainstopped。Vizard"spartydrovetotheopera，andSeverneorderedacabtoTheGoldenStar，meaningtostopitandgetout；but，lookingathiswatch，hefounditwantedhalfanhourtogamblingtime，sohesettledtohaveacupofcoffeefirst，andacigar。WiththisviewheletthemandrivehimtoTheGoldenStar。

CHAPTERIII。

INAKLOSKINGworkednightanddayuponSiebel，inGounod"s"Faust，"anduponthesongsthathadbeenaddedtogiveweighttothepart。

Shecameearlytothetheateratnight，andsat，halfdressed，fatigued，andnervous，inherdressing-room。

Crash!——thefirst_coupd"archet_announcedtheoverture，androusedherenergy，asifIthuriel"sspearhadprickedher。Shecamedowndressed，tolistenatoneoftheupperentrances，tofillherselfwiththemusicaltheme，beforetakingherpartinit，andalsotogaugetheaudienceandthesingers。

ThemanFaustwasaGerman；butthemusicalpartFaustseemsbettersuitedtoanItalianoraFrenchman。Indeed，somesaythat，asarule，theGermangeniusexcelsincreationandtheItalianinrepresentationorinterpretation。Formypart，Iamunabletojudgenationsinthelump，assomefinefellowsdo，becausenationsarecomposedofverydifferentindividuals，andIknowonlyonetothemillion；butIdotakeonmetosaythattheindividualHerrwhoexecutedDoctorFaustusatHomburgthatnighthadeverythingtolearn，exceptwhathehadtounlearn。Hispersonwasobese；hisdeliveryofthewordswasmouthing，chewing，andgurgling；

andheutteredthenotesintune，butwithoutpoint，pathos，orpassion；

asteadylay-clerkfromYorkorDurhamCathedralwouldhavedonealittlebetter，becausehewouldhavebeennocolderatheart，andmoreexactintime，andwouldhavesungclean；whereasthisgentlemansethiswindpipetrembling，allthroughthebusiness，asifpalsywerepassion。Bywhatsystemofleveragesuchamancametobehoistedontosuchapinnacleofsongas"Faust"puzzledourEnglishfriendsinfrontasmuchasitdidtheAnglo-Danishartistatthewing；forEnglishgirlsknowwhatiswhatinopera。

TheMargueritehadavoiceofsufficientcompass，andrathersweet，thoughthin。Thepartdemandsabetter_actress_thanPatti，andthisFrauleinwasnothalfasgood:sheputonthepainfulgrinofaprize-fighterwhohasreceivedastaggerer，andgrinnedallthroughthepart，thoughthereislittleinittogrinat。

ShealsosufferedbyhavingtoplaytoaFaustmilkedofhispoetry，andself-smittenwitha_tremolo_which，asIsaidbefore，isthevoiceofpalsy，andisnot，noreverwas，noreverwillbe，thevoiceofpassion。

Blessyourheart，passionisamanlything，awomanlything，agrandthing，notafeeble，quavering，palsied，anile，senilething。Learnthat，yetrembling，quaveringidiotsofsong!

"Theyletmedown，"whisperedInaKloskingtoherfaithfulAshmead。"I

feelalloutoftune。Ishallneverbeable。Andtheaudiencesocold。Itwillbelikesinginginasepulcher。"

"Whatwouldyouthinkofthem，iftheyapplauded?"saidAshmead。

"Ishouldsaytheyweregood，charitablesouls，andtheveryaudienceI

shallwantinfiveminutes。"

"No，no，"saidAshmead，"allyouwantisadiscriminatingaudience；andthisisone。RemembertheyhaveallseenPattiinMarguerite。Isitlikelytheywouldapplaudthistinstick?"

Inaturnedtheconversationwithfemininequickness。"Mr。Ashmead，haveyoukeptyourpromise；mynameisnotintheprogramme?"

"Itisnot；andagreatmistaketoo。"

"Ihavenotbeenannouncedbynameinanyway?"

"No。But，ofcourse，Ihavenursedyouabit。"

"Nursedme?Whatisthat?Oh，whathaveyoubeendoing?No_charlatanerie，_Ihope。"

"Nothingofthekind，"saidAshmead，stoutly；"onlytheregularbusiness。"

"Andpraywhatistheregularbusiness?"inquiredIna，distrustfully。

"Why，ofcourse，IsentonthemanagertosaythatMademoiselleSchwaubhadbeentakenseriouslyill；thatwehadbeenfearingwemustbreakfaithwiththepublicforthefirsttime；butthatacantatrice，whohadleftthestage，appreciatingourdifficulty，had，withrarekindness，cometoouraidforthisonenight:wefeltsureaHumbugaudience——whatamIsaying?——aHomburgaudiencewouldappreciatethis，andmakedueallowanceforaperformanceundertakeninsuchaspirit，andwithimperfectrehearsals，etc——inshort，theusualpatter；andtheusualeffect，greatapplause。Indeed，theonlyapplausethatIhaveheardinthistheaterto-night。AshmeadaheadofGounod，sofar。"

InaKloskingputbothhandsbeforeherface，andutteredalittlemoan。

Shehadreallyasoulabovetheseartifices。"So，then，"saidshe，"iftheydoreceiveme，itwillbeoutofcharity。"

"No，no；butonyourfirstnightyoumusthavetwostringstoyourbow。"

"ButIhaveonlyone。Thesecajolingspeechesareawasteofbreath。A

singercansing，orshecan_not_sing，andtheyfindoutwhichitisassoonassheopenshermouth。"

"Well，then，youopenyourmouth——thatisjustwhathalfthesingerscan"tdo——andtheywillsoonfindoutyoucansing。"

"Ihopetheymay。Idonotknow。Iamdiscouraged。I"mterrified。Ithinkitisstage-fright，"andshebegantotremblevisibly，forthetimedrewnear。

Ashmeadranoffandbroughthersomebrandy-and-water。Sheputupherhandagainstitwithroyalscorn。"No，sir!Ifthetheater，andthelights，andthepeople，themindofGoethe，andthemusicofGounod，can"texcitemewithout_that，_putmeatthecounterofacafe"，forI

havenobusinesshere。"

Thepower，withoutviolence，andthegrandeurwithwhichshesaidthiswouldhavebroughtdownthehousehadshespokenitinaplaywithoutanoteofmusic；andAshmeaddrewbackrespectfully，butchuckledinternallyattheideaofthisMinervagivingchangeinacafe"。

Andnowhercuewascoming。Sheorderedeverybodyoutoftheentrancenotveryceremoniously，anddrewwellback。Then，athercue，shemadeastatelyrush，andso，beinginfullswingbeforesheclearedthewing，shesweptintothecenterofthestagewithgreatrapidityandresolution；notraceeitherofhersorrowfulheartorherquakinglimbswasvisiblefromthefront。

Therewasalittleapplause，allduetoAshmead"spreliminaryapology，buttherewasnorealreception；forGermanyislargeandmusical，andshewasnotimmediatelyrecognizedatHomburg。Buttherewasthatindescribableflutterwhichmarksagoodimpressionandkeenexpectationsuddenlyaroused。Shewasbeautifulonthestageforonething；herfigurerathertallandstately，andherfacefullofpower:andthentheverywayshecameonshowedthestepandcarriageofanartistathomeupontheboards。

Shecastarapidglanceroundthehouse，observeditssize，andfeltherway。Shesungherfirstsongevenly，butnottamely，yetwithrestrainedpower；butthetonesweresofullandflexible，theexpressionsoeasyyetexact，thatthejudgessawtherewasnoeffort，andsuspectedsomethingbigmightbeyetinstoreto-night。Attheendofhersongshedidletoutforamoment，and，atthiswell-timedforetasteofherpower，therewasapplause，butnothingextravagant。

Shewasquitecontent，however。ShemetAshmead，asshecameoff，andsaid，"Alliswell，myfriend，sofar。Theyaresittinginjudgmentonme，likesensiblepeople，andnotinahurry。Iratherlikethat。"

"Yourownfault，"saidJoseph。"Youshouldhavebeenannounced。Prejudiceisasurercardthanjudgment。Thepublicisanass。"

"Itmustcometothesamethingintheend，"saidtheKloskingfirmly。

"Onecansing，oronecannot。"

Hernextsongwasencored，andshecameoffflushedwithartandgratifiedpride。"Ihavenofearsnow，"saidshe，toherAchates，firmly。

"Ihavemybarometer；ayoungladyinthestalls。Oh，suchabeautifulcreature，withblackhairandeyes!Sheapplaudsmefearlessly。Hergloriouseyesspeaktomine，andinspireme。Sheis_happy，_sheis。I

drinksunbeamsather。Ishallactandsing"LeParlated"Amor"for_her_——andyouwillsee。"

Betweentheacts，whoshouldcomeinbutNedSeverne，andglidedintothevacantstallbyZoe"sside。

Shequiveredathiscomingnearher；hesawit，andfeltathrillofpleasurehimself。

"Howis"S。T。"?"saidshe，kindly。

""S。T。"?"saidhe，forgetting。

"Why，yoursickfriend，tobesure。"

"Oh，nothalfsobadashethought。Iwasafooltoloseanhourofyoufor_him。_Hewashipped；hadlostallhismoneyat_rougeetnoir。_SoI

lenthimfiftypounds，andthatdidhimmoregoodthanthedoctor。Youforgiveme?"

"Forgiveyou?Iapprove。Areyougoingbacktohim?"saidshe，demurely。

"No，thankyou，Ihavemadesacrificesenough。"

Andsoindeedhehad，havinggotcleanedoutofthreehundredpoundsthroughpreferringgamblingtobeauty。

"No——howdareyou?——andsaidasingerthathadretiredwouldperformthepartof"Siebel，tooblige；andshehasobligedmeforone。Sheis，oh，sosuperiortotheothers!Suchaheavenlycontralto；andheruppernotes，honeydroppingfromthecomb。Andthensheissomodest，sodignified，_and_sobeautiful。Sheisfairasalily；andsuchaqueen-likebrow，anddeep，grayeyes，fullofsadnessandsoul。I"mafraidsheisnothappy。Onceortwiceshefixedthemonme，andtheymagnetizedme，anddrewmetoher。SoImagnetizedherinreturn。I

shouldknowheranywherefiftyyearshence。Now，ifIwereaman，I

shouldlovethatwomanandmakeherloveme。"

"ThenIamverygladyouarenotaman，"saidSeverne，tenderly。

"SoamI，"whisperedZoe，andblushed。Thecurtainrose。

"Listennow，Mr。Chatterbox，"saidZoe。

NedSevernecomposedhimselftolisten；butFrauleinGraashadnotsungmanybarsbeforeherevolted。"Listentowhat?"saidhe；"andlookatwhat?TheonlyMargueriteintheplaceisbymyside。"

Zoecoloredwithpleasure；buthergoodsensewasnottobeblinded。"TheonlygoodblackMephistophe-_less_youmean，"saidshe。"TobeMarguerite，onemustbegreat，andsweet，andtender；yes，andfarmorelovelythaneverwomanwas。ThatladyisabettercolorforthepartthanIam；butneithershenorIshalleverbeMarguerite。"

Hemurmuredinherear。"YouareMarguerite，foryoucouldfireaman"sheartsothathewouldsellhissoultogainyou。"

Itwastheaccentofpassionandthesensitivegirlquivered。Yetshedefendedherself——inwords，"Hush!"saidshe。"Thatiswicked——outofanopera。Fannywouldlaughatyou，ifsheheard。"

Hereweretworeasonsfornotmakingsuchhotloveinthestallsofanopera。Whichofthetwoweighedmostwiththefairreasonershallbelefttoherownsex。

ThebriefsceneendedwiththedeclarationoftheevilspiritthatMargueriteislost。

"There，"saidZoe，naively，"thatisover，thankgoodness:nowyouwillhear_my_singer。"

SiebelandMartacameonfromoppositesidesofthestage。"See!"saidZoe，"isn"tshelovely?"andsheturnedherbeamingfacefullonSeverne，toshareherpleasurewithhim。Toheramazementthemanseemedtransformed:adarkcloudhadcomeoverhissunnycountenance。Hesat，pale，andseemedtostareatthetall，majestic，dreamysinger，whostoodimmovable，dressedlikeavelvetyouth，yetlookinglikenoearthlyboy，butadrapedstatueofMercury，"Newlightedonaheaven-kissinghill。"

Thebloodlefthislips，andZoethoughthewasfaint；butthenextmomentheputhishandkerchiefhastilytohisnose，andwriggledhiswayout，witharushandacrawl，strangelycombined，attheverymomentwhenthesingerdeliveredherfirstcommandingnoteofrecitative。

Everybodyaboutlookedsurprisedanddisgustedatsoill-timedanexit；

butZoe，whohadseenhiswhiteface，wasseriouslyalarmed，andmadeamovementtorisetoo，andwatch，orevenfollowhim；but，whenhegottotheside，helookedbacktoher，andmadeherasignalthathisnosewasbleeding，butitwasofnogreatconsequence。Heevenpointedwithhisfingeroutandthenbackagain，indicatingheshouldnotbelonggone。

Thisre-assuredhergreatly；forshehadalwaysbeentoldalittlebleedingofthatsortwasgoodforhot-headedyoungpeople。Thenthesingertookcompleteholdofher。Thecomposer，tobalancethedelightfulpartofMarguerite，hasgivenSiebelamelodywithwhichwonderscanbedone；andtheKloskinghadmadeaconsiderablereserveofherpowersforthiscrowningeffort。Afterarecitativethatrivaledthesilvertrumpet，sheflungherselfwithimmediateandelectrifyingardorintothemelody；

theorchestra，takenbysurprise，foughtfeeblyfortheoldripple；buttheKlosking，resolutebynature，wasnowmightyasNeptune，andwouldhaveherbigwaves。Themomentarystruggle，inwhichshewasloyallysecondedbytheconductor，evokedhergrandpowers。Catguthadtoyieldtobrains，andthewholeorchestra，composed，afterall，ofgoodmusicians，sooncaughtthedivineafflatus，andthelittletheaterseemedonfirewithmusic；theair，sungwithalargerhythm，swelledandrose，andthrilledeverybreastwithamazementanddelight；thehousehungbreathless:by-and-bytherewerepalecheeks，pantingbosoms，andweteyes，thetrue，raretriumphsofthesovereignsofsong；andwhenthelastnotehadpealedandceasedtovibrate，thepent-upfeelingsbrokeforthinaroarofapplause，whichshookthedome，followedbyaclappingofhands，likeasalvo，thatneverstoppedtillInaKlosking，whohadretired，cameforwardagain。

Shecourtesiedwithadmirabledignity，modesty，andrespectfulgravity，andtheapplausethundered，andpeopleroseatherinclustersaboutthehouse，andwavedtheirhatsandhandkerchiefsather，andalittleItalianrecognizedher，andcriedoutasloudashecould，"VivalaKlosking!viva!"andsheheardthat，anditgaveherathrill；andZoeVizard，beingoutofEngland，and，therefore，braveasalioness，stoodboldlyupatherfullheight，and，takingherbouquetinherrighthand，carrieditswiftlytoherleftear，andsoflungit，withafreeback-handedsweep，moreOrientalthanEnglish，intotheair，anditlightedbesidethesinger；andshesawthenoblemotion，andthebouquetfly，and，whenshemadeherlastcourtesyatthewing，shefixedhereyesonZoe，andthenputherhandtoherheartwithamosttouchinggesturethatsaid，"MostofallIvalueyourbouquetandyourpraise。"

Thenthehousebuzzed，andrankswereleveled；littlepeoplespoketobigpeople，andbigtolittle，inmutualcongratulation；foratsuchraremoments(exceptinAnglo-Saxony)instinctseemstotellmenthattrueartisasunshineofthesoul，andblessestherichandthepooralike。

Onepersonwasaffectedinanotherway。HarringtonVizardsatraptinattention，andnevertookhiseyesoffher，yetsaidnotaword。

SeveralRussianandPrussiangrandeessoughtanintroductiontothenewsinger。Butshepleadedfatigue。

Themanagerentreatedhertosupwithhim，andmeettheGrandDukeofHesse。Shesaidshehadapriorengagement。

Shewentquietlyhome，andsuppedwithherfaithfulAshmead，andveryheartilytoo；fornaturewasexhausted，andagitationhadquitespoiledherdinner。

JosephAshmead，intheprideofhisheart，proposedabottleofchampagne。TheQueenofSong，withtriumphflushed，lookedratherblueatthat。"Myfriend，"saidshe，inameek，deprecatingway，"weareworking-people:isnotBordeauxgoodenoughfor_us?"_

"Yes；butitisnotgoodenoughfortheoccasion，"saidJoseph，alittletestily。"Well，nevermind；"andhemutteredtohimself，"thatistheworstof_good_women:theyaresoterriblystingy。"

TheQueenofSong，withtriumphflushed，didnotcatchthesewords，butonlyalittlegrowling。However，assupperproceeded，shegotuneasy。Sosherangthebell，andordereda_pint:_ofthisshedrankonespoonful。

Theremainder，co-operatingwithtriumphandclaret，keptAshmeadinagreatflowofspirits。Hetracedherabrilliantcareer。TobephotographedtomorrowmorningasSiebel，andinplaindress。Paragraphsin_Era，Figaro，Galignani，Inde"pendanceBelge，_andtheleadingdailies。Largewood-cutsbeforeleavingHomburgforParis，London，Vienna，St。Petersburg，andNewYork。"

"I"minyourhands，"saidshe，andsmiledlanguidly，topleasehim。

Butby-and-byhelookedather，andfoundshewastakingalittlecryalltoherself。

"Dearme!"saidhe，"whatisthematter?"

"Myfriend，forgiveme。_He_wasnottheretosharemytriumph。"

CHAPTERIV。

AStheoperadrewtoanend，ZoebegantolookroundmoreandmoreforSeverne；buthedidnotcome，andLordUxmoorofferedhisarmearnestly。

Shetookit；buthungbackamomentonhisveryarm，totellHarringtonMr。Severnehadbeentakenill。

Attherailwaystationthetruantemergedsuddenly，justasthetrainwasleaving；butLordUxmoorhadsecuredthreeseats，andthedefaulterhadtogowithHarrington。Onreachingthehotel，theladiestooktheirbed-candles；butUxmoorfoundtimetoproposeanexcursionnextday，Sunday，toalovelylittlelake——opencarriage，fourhorses。Theyoungladiesaccepted，butMr。Severnedeclined；hethankedLordUxmoorpolitely，buthehadarrearsofcorrespondence。

Zoecastamortifiedandratherahaughtyglanceonhim，andFannyshruggedhershouldersincredulously。

ThesetwoladiesbrushedhairtogetherinZoe"sroom。Thatisasoothingoperation，mymasters，andfamousforstimulatingfemalestofriendlygossip；butthistimetherewas，foronce，aguardedreserve。Zoewasirritated，puzzled，mortified，andevengrievedbySeverne"sconduct。

Fannywasgnawedbyjealousy，andoutoftemper。ShehadforgivenZoeNedSeverne。Butthatyoungladywasinsatiable；LordUxmoor，too，hadfallenopenlyinlovewithher——openlytoafemaleeye。So，then，ablondehadnochance，withadarkgirlby:thusreasonedshe，anditwasintolerable。Itwassometimebeforeeitherspokeanatomofwhatwasuppermostinhermind。Theyeachdoledoutahundredsentencesthatmissedthemindandmingledreadilywiththeatmosphere，being，infact，merepreliminaryandidleair。Sotwodeer，induel，goaboutandabout，andevenaffecttolookanotherway，tilltheyareripeforcollision。

Therebewriterswouldgivethereaderallthepreliminarypuffsofarticulatedwind，andeverybodywouldsay，"Howclever!Thatisjustthewaygirlsreallytalk。"ButIleavethegloryofphotographingnullitiestothegeniusesoftheage，andruntothefirstwordswhichcould，withoutimpiety，becalleddialogue。

"Don"tyouthinkhisconductalittlemysterious?"saidZoe，_mal"apropos_ofanythingthathadbeensaidhitherto。

"Well，yes；rather，"saidFanny，withmarkedcarelessness。

"First，asickfriend；thenableedingatthenose；andnowhewon"tdrivetothelakewithus。Arrearsofcorrespondence?Pooh!"

Now，Fanny"ssuspicionsweredeeperthanZoe"s；shehadobservedSevernekeenly:butitwasnothercuetospeak。Sheyawnedandsaid，"What_does_itmatter?"

"Don"tbeunkind，Fanny。Itmattersto_me。"_

"Notit。Youhaveanotherready。"

"Whatother?ThereisnoonethatI——Fanny。"

"Oh，nonsense!Themanisevidentlysmitten，andyoukeepencouraginghim。"

"No，Idon"t；Iambarelycivil。Anddon"tbeill-natured。What_can_I

do?"

"Why，becontentwithoneatatime。"

"Itisveryrudetotalkso。Besides，Ihaven"tgotone，muchlesstwo。I

begintodoubt_him；_and，LordUxmoor!youknowIcannotpossiblycareforhim——anacquaintanceofyesterday。"

"Butyouknowallabouthim——thatheisanexcellent_parti，"_saidFanny，withaprovokingsneer。

Thiswasnottobeborne。

"Oh!"saidZoe，"Isee；youwanthimforyourself。Itis_you_thatarenotcontentwithone。YouforgethowpoorHarringtonwouldmissyourattentions。Hewould_begin_toappreciatethem——whenhehadlostthem。"

Thisstung，andFannyturnedwhiteandredbyturns。"Ideservethis，"

saidshe，"forwastingadviceonacoquette。"

"Thatisnottrue。I"mnocoquette；andhereIam，askingyouradvice，andyouonlysnubme。Youareajealous，cross，unreasonablething。"

"Well，I"mnotahypocrite。"

"Ineverwascalledsobefore，"saidZoe，noblyandgently。

"Thenyouwerenotfoundout，thatisall。Youlooksosimpleandingenuous，andblushifamansayshalfawordtoyou；andallthetimeyouareagreaterflirtthanIam。"

"Oh，Fanny!"screamedZoe，withhorror。

Itseemsareparteemaybeconveyedinascream；forFannynowlosthertemperaltogether。"Yourconductwiththosetwomenisabominable，"saidshe。"Iwon"tspeaktoyouanymore。"

"Ibegyouwill_not，_inyourpresenttemper，"saidZoe，withunaffecteddignity，andrisinglikeaGreekcolumn。

Fannyflouncedoutoftheroom。

Zoesatdownandsighed，andhergloriouseyesweredimmed。

Mystery——doubt——andnowaquarrel。Whataday!Atherage，alittlecloudseemstodarkenthewholesky。

Nextmorningthelittlepartymetatbreakfast。LordUxmoor，anticipatingadelightfulday，wasinhighspirits，andheandFannykeptuptheball。

Shehadresolved，inthesilentwatchesofthenight，tocontesthimwithZoe，andmakeeverypossibleuseofSeverne，intheconflict。

Zoewassilentand_distraite，_anddidnoteventrytocompetewithhersparklingrival。ButLordUxmoor"seyesoftenwanderedfromhissprightlycompaniontoZoe，anditwasplainhelongedforawordfromhermouth。

Fannyobserved，bitherlip，andtackedinternally，""boutship，"asthesailorssay。Hergamenow，conceivedinamoment，andatonceputinexecution，wastoencourageUxmoor"sattentionstoZoe。ShebeganbyopenlycourtingMr。Severne，tomakeZoetalktoUxmoor，andalsomakehimthinkthatSeverneandshewerethelovers。

Herintentionsweretoutilizethecomingexcursion:shewouldattachherselftoHarrington，andsodriveZoeandUxmoortogether；andthenLordUxmoor，athispresentrateofamorousadvance，wouldprobablyleadZoetoadetachedrock，andmakeheraseriousdeclaration。Thisgood，artfulgirlfeltsuresuchadeclaration，madeafewmonthshenceinBarfordshire，wouldbeaccepted，andherselfleftinthecold。Thereforesheresolveditshouldbemadeprematurely，andinPrussia，withSeverneathand，andsoinallprobabilitycometonothing。Sheevenglimpsedavistaofconsequences，andinthatlittleavenuediscernedthefigureofFannyDoverplayingthepartofconsoler，friend，andultimatelyspousetoawealthynoble。

CHAPTERV。

THEletterswerebroughtin；onewastoVizard，fromHerries，announcingaremittance；onetoLordUxmoor。Onreadingit，hewassurprisedintoanexclamation，andhisfaceexpressedgreatconcern。

"Oh!"saidZoe——"Harrington!"

Harrington"sattentionbeingthusdrawn，hesaid，"Nobadnews，Ihope?"

"Yes，"saidUxmoor，inalowvoice，"verybad。Myoldest，truest，dearestfriendhasbeenseizedwithsmall-pox，andhislifeisindanger。Hehasaskedforme，poorfellow。Thisisfromhissister。Imuststartbythetwelveo"clocktrain。"

"Small-pox!Why，itiscontagious，"criedFanny；"andsodisfiguring!"

"Ican"thelpthat，"saidthehonestfellow；andinstantlyrangthebellforhisservant，andgavetherequisiteorders。

Zoe，whoseeyehadneverlefthimallthetime，said，softly，"Itisbraveandgoodofyou。Wepoor，emotional，cowardlygirlsshouldsitdownandcry。"

_"You_wouldnot，MissVizard，"saidhe，firmly，lookingfullather。"Ifyouthinkyouwould，youdon"tknowyourself。"

Zoecoloredhigh，andwassilent。

ThenLordUxmoorshowedthetrueEnglishgentleman。"Idohope，"saidhe，earnestly，thoughinasomewhatbrokenvoice，"thatyouwillnotletthisspoilthepleasurewehadplannedtogether。Harringtonwillbemydeputy。"

"Well，Idon"tknow，"saidHarrington，sympathizingly。Mr。Severneremarked，"Suchanoccurrenceputspleasureoutofone"shead。"Thishesaid，withhiseyesonhisplate，likeonerepeatingalesson。"Vizard，I

entreatyou，"saidUxmoor，almostvexed。"Itwillonlymakememoreunhappyifyoudon"t。"

"Wewillgo，"criedZoe，earnestly；"wepromisetogo。Whatdoesitmatter?Weshallthinkofyouandyourpoorfriendwhereverweare。AndI