第5章

Itwasaverylongapartment，fullfortyfeet；andwhileFannybustleddownit，MissMaitlandextendedaskinnyfinger，likeoneofMacbeth"switches，anddirectedVizard"seyetotherecedingfiguresopointedlythatheputuphisspyglassthebettertoseethephenomenon。

AsFannyskippedoutandclosedthedoor，MissMaitlandturnedtoVizard，withleanfingerstillpointingafterFanny，andutteredamonosyllable:

"LAME!"

Vizardburstoutlaughing。"Lafourbe!"saidhe。"MissMaitland，acceptmycompliments；youpossessthekeytoasexnofellowcanunlock。And，nowIhavefoundaninterpreter，Ibegintobeinterestedinthislittlecomedy。Thefirstactisjustover。Therewillbehalfanhour"swaittillthesimulatrixofinfirmitycomesrunningbackwiththepilgrimsoftheRhine。Arethey"thepilgrimsoftheRhine"or"thepilgrimsofLove?"Timewillshow。Playtorecommencewithaverbalencounter；youwillbeoneagainstthree；forallthat，Idon"tenvythegreaternumber。"

"Threetoone?No。Surelyyouwillbeontherightsideforonce。

"Well，yousee，Iamtheaudience。Wecan"tbeall_dramatispersonae，_

andnospectator。Duringthewait，Iwonderwhethertheaudience，havingnothingbettertodo，maybepermittedtosmokeacigar。"

"Solongalucidintervalisirksome，ofcourse。Well，thebalconyisyoursmoking-room。Youwillseethemcoming；pleasetapatmydoorthemomentyoudo。"

Halfanhourelapsed，anhour，andthepersonagesrequiredtocontinuethecomedydidnotreturn。

Vizard，havingnothingbettertodo，felltothinkingofInaKlosking，andthatwasnotgoodforhim。Solitudeand_ennui_fedhismania，andatlastittooktheformofaction。Herang，andordereduphismanHarris，aclose，discreetpersonage，anddirectedhimtogoovertoHomburg，andbringbackalltheinformationhecouldaboutthenewsinger；heraddressinHomburg，marriedorsingle，prudeorcoquette。Shouldinformationbewithheld，Harriswastofeetheporterattheopera-house，thewaiteratherhotel，andallthehumancommoditiesthatknewanythingabouther。

HavingdismissedHarris，helightedhisseventhcigar，andsaidtohimself，"ItisallNedSeverne"sfault。IwantedtoleaveforEnglandto-day。"

Thedayhadbeenovercastforsometimeandnowafewbigdropsfell，bywayofwarning。Thenitturnedcool:thencamealightdrizzlingrain，and，inthemiddleofthis，FannyDoverappeared，almostflyinghome。

VizardwentandtappedatMissMaitland"sdoor。Shecameout。

"Here"sMissDovercoming，butsheisalone。"

ThenextmomentFannybouncedintotheroom，andstartedalittleatthepictureofthepairreadytoreceiveher。Shedidnotwaittobetakentotask，butproceededtoavertcensurebyvolubilityandself-praise。

"Aunt，Iwentdowntotheriver，whereIleftthem，andlookedallalongit，andtheywerenotinsight。ThenIwenttothecathedral，becausethatseemedthenextlikeliestplace。Oh，Ihavehadsucharace!"

"Whydidyoucomebackbeforeyouhadfoundthem?"

"Aunt，itwasgoingtorain；anditisrainingnow，hard。"

_"She_doesnotmindthat。"

"Zoe?Oh，shehasgotnothingon!"

"Blessme!"criedVizard。"Godiva_rediviva。"_

"Now，Harrington，don"t!Ofcourse，Imeannothingtospoil；onlyherpurplealpaca，andthatistwoyearsold。Butmybluesilk，Ican"taffordtoruin_it。_Nobodywouldgivemeanother，_I_know。"

"Whataheartlessworld!"saidVizarddryly。

"Itispastajest，thewholething，"objectedMissMaitland；"and，nowwearetogether，pleasetellme，ifyoucan，eitherofyou，whoisthisman?Whatarehismeans?Iknow"ThePeerage，""TheBaronetage，"and"TheLandedGentry，"butnotSeverne。Thatisariver，notafamily。"

"Oh，"saidVizard，"familynamestakenfromriversarenever_parvenues。_

Butwecan"tallbedowninBurke。Nedisofagoodstock，theoldEnglishyeoman，thecountry"spride。"

"Yeoman!"saidtheMaitland，withsovereigncontempt。

Vizardresisted。"IsthistheplacetosneeratanEnglishyeoman，whereyouseeanunprincelyprincelivingbyagambling-table?Whatsaystheoldstave?

""AGermanprince，amarquisofFrance，Andalairdo"theNorthCountrie；Ayeomano"Kent，withhisyearlyrent，Wouldding"emout，allthree。""

"Then，"saidMisander，withagooddealofmalicious，intent，"youarequitesureyouryeomanisnota——_pauper——_an_adventurer——"_

"Positive。"

"Anda_gambler。"_

"No；Iamnotatallsureofthat。Butnobodyisall-wise。Iamnot，forone。Heisafinefellow；asgoodasgold；astrueassteel。Alwayspolite，alwaysgenial；andneverspeaksillofanyofyoubehindyourbacks。"

MissMaitlandbridledatthat。"WhatIhavesaidisnotoutofdisliketotheyoungman。Iamwarningabrothertotakealittlemorecareofhissister，thatisall。However，afteryoursneer，IshallsaynomorebehindMr。Severne"sback，buttohisface——thatis，ifweeverseehisfaceagain，orZoe"seither。"

"Oh，aunt!"saidFanny，reproachfully。"Itisonlytherain。La!poorthings，theywillbewettotheskin。Justseehowitispouring!"

"Thatitis:andletmetellyouthereisnothingsodangerousasa_te"te-"a-te"te_intherain。"

"Athunder-stormisworse，aunt，"saidFanny，eagerly；"becausethensheisfrightenedtodeath，andclingstohim——_ifheisnice。"_

Havinggallopedintothisrevelation，throughspeakingfirstandthinkingafterward，Fannypulledupshortthemomentthewordswereout，andturnedred，andlookedaskant，underherpalelashesatVizard。Observingseveraltwinklesinhiseyes，shegotuphastilyandsaidshereallymustgoanddryhergown。

"Yes，"saidMissMaitland；"comeintomyroom，dear。"

Fannycomplied，withratheraruefulface，notdoubtingthatthepublic"dear"wastogetitratherhotinprivate。

Heruneasinesswasnotlessenedwhentheoldmaidsaidtoher，grimly，"Now，sityoudownthere，andnevermindyourdress。"

However，itcamerathermildly，afterall。"Fanny，youarenotabadgirl，andyouhaveshownyouweresorry；soIamnotgoingtobehardonyou:onlyyoumustbeagoodgirlnow，andhelpmetoundothemischief，andthenIwillforgiveyou。"

"Aunt，"saidFanny，piteously，"Iamolderthansheis，andIknowIhavedoneratherwrong，andIwon"tdoitanymore；butpray，pray，don"taskmetobeunkindtoherto-day；itisbrooch-day。"

MissMaitlandonlystaredatthisobscureannouncement:soFannyhadtoexplainthatZoeandshehadtiffed，andmadeitup，andZoehadgivenherabrooch。Hereuponshewentforit，andbothladiesforgotthetopictheywereon，andeveryother，toexaminethebrooch。

"Aunt，"saysFanny，handlingthebrooch，andeyeingit，"youwereapoorgirl，likeme，beforegrandpapaleftyouthemoney，andyouknowitisjustaswelltohaveatiffnowandthenwitharichone，because，whenyoukissandmakeitup，youalwaysgetsomereconciliation-thingorother。"

MissMaitlanddivedintothepastandnoddedapproval。

Thusencouraged，Fannyproceededtomoremodernrules。SheletMissMaitlandknowitwasalwaysunderstoodatherschoolthatontheseoccasionsoftiff，reconciliation，andpresent，thegirlwhoreceivedthepresentwastosideineverythingwiththegirlwhogaveit，forthatoneday。"ThatistherealreasonIputonmytightboots——toearnmybrooch。

Isn"titaduck?"

_"Are_theytight，then?"

"Awfully。See——newonto-day。"

"Butyoucouldshakeoffyourlamenessinamoment。"

"La，aunt，youknowonecanfight_with_thatsortofthing，orfight_against_it。Itislikecolds，andheadaches，andfevers，andallthat。

Youareinbed，tooilltoseeanybodyyoudon"tmuchcarefor。Nightcomes，andthenyoujumpupanddress，andgotoaball，andleaveyourcoldandyourfeverbehindyou，becausetheballwon"twaittillyouarewell，andtheboreswill。Sodon"taskmetobeunkindtoZoe，brooch-day，"saidFanny，skippingbacktoherfirstpositionwithsingularpertinacity。

"Now，Fanny，"saidMissMaitland，"whowantsyoutobeunkindtoher?Butyoumustandshallpromisemenottolendheranymoredownrightencouragement，andtowatchthemanwell。"

"Ipromisethatfaithfully，"saidFanny——anadroitconcession，sinceshehadbeenwatchinghimlikeacatamouseformanydays。

"Thenyouareagoodgirl；and，torewardyou，IwilltellyouinconfidenceallthestrangestoriesIhavediscoveredtoday。"

"Oh，do，aunt!"criedFanny；andnowhereyesbegantosparklewithcuriosity。

MissMaitlandthenbidherobservethatthebedroomwindowwasnotaFrenchcasement，butadouble-sashwindow——closedatpresentbecauseoftherain；butithadbeenwideopenatthetopallthetime。

"Thosetwoweresmoking，andtalkingsecrets；and，child，"saidtheoldlady，veryimpressively，"ifyou——want——to——know——whatgentlemenreallyare，youmustbeoutofsight，andlistentothem，smoking。WhenIwasagirl，thegentlemencameoutintheirtruecolorsovertheirwine。Nowtheyareascloseaswax，drinking；andevenwhentheyaretipsytheykeeptheirsecrets。Butonceletthemgetbythemselvesandsmoke，theveryairissoonfilledwithscandaloussecretsnoneoftheladiesinthehouseeverdreamedof。Theirrealcharacters，theirtruehistories，andtheirgenuinesentiments，arelockeduplikethatgeniusin"TheArabianNights，"andcomeoutinsmokeashedid。"Theoldladychuckledatherownwit，andtheyoungonelaughedtohumorher。"Well，mydear，thosetwosmoked，andrevealedthemselves——theirrealselves；andIlistenedandheardeverywordonthetopofthosedrawers。"

Fannylookedatthedrawers。Theywerehigh。

"La，aunt!howeverdidyougetupthere?"

"Byachair。"

"Oh，fancyyouperchedupthere，listening，atyourage!"

"Youneednotkeepthrowingmyageinmyteeth。Iamnotsoveryold。

OnlyIdon"tpaintandwhitenandwearfalsehair。Thereareplentyofcoquettesabout，eversomucholderthanIam。Ihaveagreatmindnottotellyou；andthenmuchyouwilleverknowabouteitherofthesemen!"

"Oh，aunt，don"tbecruel!Iamdyingtohearit。"

Asauntwasequallydyingtotellit，shepassedovertheskituponherage，thoughshedidnotforgetnorforgiveit；andrepeatedthewholeconversationofVizardandSevernewithrarefidelity；butasIabhorwhattheevangelistcalls"battology，"andShakespeare"damnableiteration，"Imustdrawupontheintelligenceofthereader(ifany)，andhemustbepleasedtoimaginethewholedialogueofthosetwounguardedsmokersrepeatedtoFanny，andinterrupted，commentedonateverysalientpoint，scrutinized，sifted，dissected，andtakentopiecesbytwokeenwomen，sharpbynature，andsharpernowbycollisionoftheirheads。Nocandor，notolerance，noallowanceforhumanweakness，bluntedthescalpelintheirdexteroushands。

Oh，Gossip!delightofordinarysouls，andmoredelightfulstillwhenyoufurnishfoodfordetraction!

ToFanny，inparticular，itwasexciting，ravishing，andthetimeflewbysounheededthatpresentlytherecameasharpknockandanimpatientvoicecried，"Chatter!chatter!chatter!Howlongarewetobekeptwaitingfordinner，allofus?"

CHAPTERVI。

ATtheverycommencementoftheconfabulation，sobarbarouslyinterruptedbeforeithadlastedtwohoursandahalf，theMisogynrangthebell，andaskedforRosa，Zoe"smaid。

Shecame，andheorderedhertohaveupabasketofwood，andlightaroaringfireinhermistress"sroom，andputoutgarmentstoair。HealsoinquiredthenumberofZoe"sbedroom。Thegirlsaiditwas"No。74。"

TheMisogynwaitedhalfanhour，andthenvisited"No。74。"Hefoundthefireburneddowntoonelog，andsomethingsairingatthefire，asdomesticsairtheiremployers"things，butnottheirown，youmaybesure。Therewasachemisecarefullyfoldedintothesmallestpossiblecompass，anddoubledoverahorseatagooddistancefromthecoldfire。

Therewereothergarmentsandsupplementaries，alltreatedinthesameway。

TheMisogynlooked，andremarkedasfollows，"Idiots!ateverythingbuttakinginthemen。"

Havingrelievedhisspleenwiththiscourteousandcomprehensiveobservation，hepiledloguponlogtillthefirewashalfupthechimney。

Thenhegotallthechairsandmadeasemi-circle，andspreadoutthevariousgarmentstothegenialheat；andsoclosethat，hadasparkflown，theywouldhavebeenwarmedwithavengeance，andthesuperiorityofthemaleintellectdemonstrated。Thisdone，heretired，withaguiltyair；forhedidnotwanttobecaughtmeddlinginsuchfrivolitiesbyMissDoverorMissMaitland。However，hewasquitesafe；thosesuperiorspiritswerewhollyoccupiedwiththeloftierthingsofthemind，especiallythecharactersoftheirneighbors。

Imustnowgoforthesetruantsthataregivingeverybodysomuchtrouble。

WhenFannyfelllameandsaidshewasverysorry，butshemustgohomeandchangeherboots，Zoewasforgoinghometoo。ButFanny，doubtinghersincerity，wasperemptory，andsaidtheyhadonlytostrollslowlyon，andthenturn；sheshouldmeetthemcomingback。Zoecoloredhigh，suspectingtheyhadseenthelastofthisingeniousyounglady。

"Whatagoodgirl!"criedSeverne。

"Iamafraidsheisaverynaughtygirl，"saidZoe，faintly；andthefirsteffectofFanny"sretreatwastomakeheragreatdealmorereservedandlesssprightly。

Severneobserved，andunderstood，andsawhemustgivehertime。Hewassorespectful，aswellastender，that，bydegrees，shecameoutagain，andbeamedwithyouthandhappiness。

Theystrolledveryslowlybythefairriver，andtheprettylittlenothingstheysaidtoeachotherbegantobemerevehiclesforthosesofttonesandlooks，inwhichloveismade，farmorethanbythewordsthemselves。

Whentheystartedonthiswalk，SevernehadnodistinctnorseriousviewsonZoe。Buthehadbeenplayingwithfireforsometime，andsonowhegotwellburned。

Walkingslowlybyhisside，andconsciousofbeingwooed，whateverthewordsmightbe，Zoewaslovelierthanever。Thoseloweredlashes，thatmantlingcheek，thosesoft，tendermurmurs，toldhimhewasdear，andthrilledhisheart，thoughacoldonecomparedwithhers。

Hewasinlove；asmuchashecouldbe，andmorethanhehadeverbeenbefore。Heneverevenaskedhimselfwhetherpermanenthappinesswaslikelytospringfromthislove:hewasself-indulgent，reckless，andinlove。

Helookedather，wishedhecouldrecallhiswholelife，andsighed。

"Whydoyousigh?"saidshe，gently。

"Idon"tknow。Yes，Ido。BecauseIamnothappy。"

"Nothappy?"saidshe。"Yououghttobe；andIamsureyoudeservetobe。"

"Idon"tknowthat。However，IthinkIshallbehappierinafewminutes，orelseveryunhappyindeed。Thatdependsonyou。"

"Onme，Mr。Severne?"andsheblushedcrimson，andherbosombegantoheave。Hiswordsledhertoexpectadeclarationandaproposalofmarriage。

Hesawhermistake；andheremotionspokesoplainlyandsweetly，andtriedhimso，thatitcosthimagreateffortnottoclaspherinhisarms。Butthatwasnothiscueatpresent。Heloweredhiseyes，togivehertime，andsaid，sadly，"Icannothelpseeingthat，somehow，thereissuspicionintheairaboutme。MissMaitlandputsquestions，anddropshints。MissDoverwatchesmelikealynx。EvenyougavemeahinttheotherdaythatInevertalktoyouaboutmyrelations，andmypastlife。"

"Praydonotconfoundmewithotherpeople，"saidZoeproudly。"IfIamcurious，itisbecauseIknowyoumusthavedonemanygoodthingsandcleverthings；butyouhavetoolittlevanity，ortoomuchpride，totellthemeventoonewho——esteemsyou，andcouldappreciate。"

"Iknowyouareasgenerousandnobleasmostpeoplearenarrow-minded，"

saidSeverne，enthusiastically；"andIhavedeterminedtotellyouallaboutmyself。"

Zoe"scheeksbeamedwithgratifiedprideandhereyessparkled。

"Only，asIwouldnottellittoanybodybutyou，Imuststipulatethatyouwillreceiveitinsacredconfidence，andnotrepeatittoalivingsoul。"

"Noteventomybrother，wholovesyouso?"

"Noteventohim。"

Thisalarmedtheinstinctivedelicacyandmodestyofatrulyvirginsoul。

"Iamnotexperienced，"saidshe。"ButIfeelIoughtnottoyieldtocuriosityandhearfromyouanythingIamforbiddentotellmybrother。

YoumightaswellsayImustnottellmymother；fordearHarringtonisallthemotherIhave；andIamsureheisatruefriendtoyou"(thislastalittlereproachfully)。

ButforSeverne"shabitualself-command，hewouldhavetreatedthisdelicacyasridiculousprudery；buthewasequaltogreaterdifficulties。

"Youareright，byinstinct，ineverything。Well，then，Ishalltellyou，andyoushallseeatoncewhetheritoughttoberepeated，ortoremainasacreddepositbetweenmeandtheonlycreatureIhavethecouragetotellitto。"

Zoeloweredhereyes，andmarkedthesandwithherparasol。Shewasalittlepuzzlednow，andhalfconsciousthat，somehow，hewastyinghertosecrecywithsilkinsteadofrope；butsheneversuspectedthedeliberateartanddexteritywithwhichitwasdone。

Severnethenmadetherevelationwhichhehadbeenpreparingforadayortwopast；and，toavoideternalcommentsbytheauthor，Imustoncemorecallintheartfulaidoftheprinters。ThetruepartofMr。Severne"srevelationisinitalics；thefalseinordinarytype。

_"Whenmyfatherdied，IinheritedanestateinHuntingdonshire。ItwasnotsolargeasVizard"s，butitwasclear。Notamortgagenorincumbranceonit。Ihadayoungerbrother；_afellowwithcharmingmanners，andveryaccomplished。Thesewerehisruin:hegotintohighsocietyinLondon；_buthighsocietyisnotalwaysgoodsociety。_Hebecameconnectedwithafastlot，someoftheyoungnobility。Ofcoursehecouldnotviewiththem。Hegotdeeplyindebt。Notbutwhattheywereindebttoo，everyoneofthem。HeusedtosendtomeformoneyoftenerthanIliked；butIneversuspectedtheratehewasgoingat。Iwasanxious，too，abouthim；butIsaidtomyselfhewasjustsowinghiswildoats，likeotherfellows。Well，itwenton，until——tohismisfortuneandmine——hegotentangledinsomedisgracefultransactions；thegeneralfeaturesareknowntoalltheworld。Idaresayyouhaveheardofoneortwoyoungnoblemenwhocommittedforgeriesontheirrelationsandfriendssomeyearsago。_Oneofthem，thesonofanearl，tookhissister"swholefortuneoutofherbank，withasingleforgedcheck。Ibelievethesumtotalofhisforgerieswasoveronehundredthousandpounds。Hisfathercouldnotfindhalfthemoney。Anumberofthenobilityhadtocombinetorepurchasethedocuments；manyofthemwereinthehandsoftheJews；andIbelieveacompositionwaseffected，withthehelpofaverypowerfulbarrister，anM。P。Hewentoutofhislineonthisoccasion，andmediatedbetweentheparties。_WhatwillyouthinkwhenItellyouthatmybrother，thesonofmyfatherandmymother，wasoneoftheseforgers——acriminal?"

"Mypoorfriend!"criedZoe，claspingherinnocenthands。

"Itwasathunder-clap。Ihadagreatmindtowashmyhandsofit，andlethimgotoprison。ButhowcouldI?Thestruggleendedinmydoingliketherest。Onlypoor，Ihadnonoblekinsmenwithlongpursestohelpme，andnosolicitor-generaltomediate_subrosa。_Thetotalamountwouldhaveswampedmyfamilyacres。Igotthemdowntosixtypercent，andthatonlycrippledmyestateforever。Asformybrother，hefellonhiskneestome。ButIcouldnotforgivehim。_Heleftthecountrywithahundredpounds_Igavehim。_HeisinCanada；andonlyknownthereasamostrespectablefarmer。_Hetalksofpayingmeback。ThatIshallbelievewhenIseeit。AllIknowforcertainisthathiscrimehasmortgagedmyestate，andleftmepoor——andsuspected。"

WhileSevernerelatedthis，therepassedasomewhatnotablethingintheworldofmind。Theinventorofthishistorydidnotunderstandit；thehearerdid，andaccompanieditwithinnocentsympatheticsighs。Herimagination，morepowerfulandprecisethantheinventor"s，picturedthehorrorofthehigh-mindedbrother，hisagony，hisshame，hisrespectforlawandhonesty，hispityforhisownfleshandblood，hisstruggle，andthefinaltriumphoffraternalaffection。Everylineofthefigmentwasalivetoher，andshe_realized_thetale。Severneonlyrepeatedit。

Atthelasttouchofhiscoldart，thewarm-heartedgirlcouldcontainnolonger。

"Oh，poorMr。Severne!"shecried；"poorMr。Severne!"Andthetearsrandownhercheeks。

Helookedatherfirstwithalittleastonishment——fancytakinghislittlenarrativetoheartlikethat——thenwithcompunction，andthenwithamomentaryhorrorathimself，andterrorattheimpassablegulffixedbetweenthem，byherraregoodnessandhisdepravity。

Thenforamomenthefelt，andfeltallmannerofthingsatonce。"Oh，don"tcry，"heblurtedout，andbegantoblubberhimselfathavingmadehercryatall，andsounfairly。Itwashisluckyhour；thishystericaleffusion，undignifiedbyasinglegrainofactivecontrition，orevenpenitentresolve，toldinhisfavor。Theymingledtheirtears；andheartscannotholdaloofwhentearscometogether。Yes，theymingledtheirtears，andthecrocodiletearswerethemale"s，ifyouplease，andthewoman"stearswerepureholydrops，thatangelsmighthavegatheredandcarriedthemtoGodforpearlsofthehumansoul。

Aftertheyhadcriedtogetheroverthecoolfigment，Zoesaid:"Idonotrepentmycuriositynow。Youdidwelltotellme。Oh，no，youwereright，andIwillnevertellanybody。Peoplearenarrow-minded。Theyshallnevercastyourbrother"scrimeinyourteeth，noryourownlossesIesteemyoufor——oh，somuchmorethanever!Iwonderyoucouldtellme。"

"Youwouldnotwonderifyouknewhowsuperioryouaretoalltheworld:

hownoble，howgenerous，andhowI——"

"Oh，Mr。Severne，itisgoingtorain!Wemustgethomeasfastaseverwecan。"

Theyturned，andZoe，withtruevirgincoyness，andelasticlimbs，madethecomingrainanexcuseforsuchswiftwalkingthatSevernecouldnotmaketenderlovetoher。Tobesure，ApolloranafterDaphne，withhislittleproposals；but，Itakeit，heranmute——tillhefoundhecouldn"tcatchher。Indeed，itwasasmuchasSevernecoulddotokeepupwithher"fairheelandtoe。"ButIascribethistohernotwearinghighheelseversinceFannytoldhershewasjustalittletootall，andshewasnoviceenoughtobelieveher。

Shewouldnotstopforthedrizzle；butatlastitcamedownwithsuchavengeancethatshewaspersuadedtoleavethepathandrunforacattle-shedatsomedistance。HeresheandSevernewereimprisoned。

Luckilyforthem"thekyehadnotcomehame，"andtheshedwasempty。

Theygotintothefarthestcornerofit；foritwasallopentowardtheriver；andtherainpatteredontheroofasifitwouldbreakit。

Thusdriventogether，wasitwonderfulthatsoonherhandwasinhis，andthat，astheypurredtogether，andmurmuredsoftnothings，morethanonceshewassurprisedintoreturningthesoftpressurewhichhegaveitsooften?

Theplumpdeclarationshehadfledfrom，andnowseemeddeliciouslyresignedto，didnotactuallycome。Buthedidwhatshevaluedmore，heresumedhisconfidences:toldherhehadvices；wasfondofgambling。

Excuseditonthescoreofhislossbyhisbrother；saidhehopedsoontoheargoodnewsfromCanada；didn"tdespair；washappynow，inspiteofall；hadbeenhappyeversincehehadmet_her。_Whatdeclarationwasneeded?Theunderstandingwascomplete。Neitherdoubtedtheother"slove；

andZoewouldhavethoughtherselfafaithless，wickedgirl，if，afterthis，shehadgoneandacceptedanyotherman。

Butpresentlyshehadamisgiving，andlookedatherwatch。Yes，itwantedbutonehourtodinner。Now，herbrotherwasratheraTartaraboutpunctualityatdinner。Shefeltshewasalreadyindangerofcensureforherlong_te"te-"a-te"te_withSeverne，thoughtherainwastheculprit。

Shecouldnotaffordtodraweveryeyeuponherbybeinglatefordinneralongwithhim。

ShetoldSevernetheymustgohomenow，rainornorain，andshewalkedresolutelyoutintotheweather。

Severnedidnotlikeitatall，buthewaswiseenoughtodeploreitonlyonheraccount；andindeedherlightalpacawassoondrenched，andbegantoclingtoher。Butthespiritedgirlonlylaughedathiscondolences，asshehurriedon。"Why，itisonlywarmwater，"saidshe；"thisisnomorethanabathinthesummersea。Bathingisgettingwetthroughinblueflannel。Well，Iambathinginbluealpaca。"

"Butitwillruinyourdress。"

"Mydress!Why，itisasoldasthehills。WhenIgethomeI"llgiveittoRosa，readywashed——ha-ha!"

Therainpeltedandpoured，andlongbeforetheyreachedtheinn，Zoe"sdresshadbecomeanexternalcuticle，analpacaskin。

Butinnocenceissometimesverybold。Shedidnotcareabit；and，totellthetruth，shehadlittleneedtocare。Beautysopositiveashersisindomitable。ThepettyaccidentsthataretheterrorsofhomelycharmsseemtoenhanceQueenBeauty。Disheveledhairadornsit:closeboundhairadornsit。Simplicityadornsit。Diamondsadornit。Everythingseemstoadornit，because，thetruthis，itadornseverything。AndsoZoe，drenchedwithrain，andherdressabathing-gown，wasonlyaGreekgoddesstintedblue，herbustandshouldersandhermoldedfigurecovered，yetrevealed。Whatwasshetoanartist"seye?JusttheTownlyVenuswithhersculptor"scunningdraperies，andJuno"sgait。

"EtveraincessapatuitDea。"

WhenshegottothehotelsheheldupherfingertoSevernewithaprettyperemptoriness。Shehadshownhimsomuchtenderness，shefeltshehadarighttoorderhimnow:"Imustbegofyou，"saidshe，"togostraighttoyourroomsanddressveryquickly，andpresentyourselftoHarringtonfiveminutesbeforedinneratleast。"

"Iwillobey，"saidhe，obsequiously。

Thatpleasedher，andshekissedherhandtohimandscuddedtoherownroom。

Atsightoftheblazingfireandprovidentpreparations，shestarted，andsaid，aloud，"Oh，howniceofthem!"and，alldrippingasshewas，shestoodtherewithheryoungheartinadoubleglow。

Suchanatureashershastoolittleegotismandlow-bredvanitytoundervalueworthylove。TheinfiniteheartofaZoeVizardcanlovebutonewithpassion，yeteversomanymorewithwarmandtenderaffection。

ShegaveAuntMaitlandcreditforthisprovidentaffection。ItwasoutofthesprightlyFanny"sline；andshesaidtoherself，"Dearoldthing!

there，Ithoughtshewasbottlingupalectureforme，andallthetimeherrealanxietywaslestIshouldbewetthrough。"ThereuponshesettledinhermindtobeginlovingAuntMaitlandfromthathour。Shedidnotringforhermaidtillshewasnearlydressed，and，whenRosacameandexclaimedattheconditionofhercast-offrobes，shelaughedandtoldheritwasnothing——theRhinewasniceandwarm——pretendingshehadbeeninit。Sheorderedhertodrythedress，andironit。

"Why，la，miss；you"llneverwearitagain，tobesure?"saidRosa，demurely。

"Idon"tknow，"saidtheyounglady，archly；"butImeantotakegreatcareofit，"andburstoutlaughinglikeapealofsilverbells，becauseshewasinhighspirits，andsawwhatRosawouldbeat。

Giveawaythegownshehadbeenwooedandwetthroughin——no，thankyou!

Suchgownsasthesebelandmarks，mymasters。

Vizard，unconsciousofherarrival，waswalkingupanddowntheroom，fidgetingmoreandmore，whenincameZoe，dressedhighinblacksilkandwhitelace，lookingeversocozy，andbloominglikearose。

"What!"saidhe；"in，anddressed。"Hetookherbytheshouldersandgaveheragreatkiss。"Youyoungmonkey!"saidhe，"Iwasafraidyouwerewashedaway。"

Zoesuggestedthatwouldonlyhavebeenawomanobliterated。

"Thatistrue，"saidhe，withanairofheartyconviction。"Iforgotthat。"

Hetheninquiredifshehadhadanicewalk。

"Oh，beautiful!Imprisonedhalfthetimeinacow-shed，andthendrenched。ButI"llhaveanicewalkwithyou，dear，upanddowntheroom。"

"Comeon，then。"

Sosheputherrighthandonhisleftshoulder，andgavehimherlefthand，andtheywalkedupanddowntheroom，Zoebeamingwithhappinessandaffectionforeverybodyandwalkingatagracefulbend。

Severnecamein，dressedasperfectasthoughjusttakenoutofabandbox。Hesatdownatalittletable，andreadalittlejournalunobtrusively。Itwashiscuetodivesthislate_te"te-"a-te"te_ofpublicimportance。

Thencamedinner，andtwoofthepartyabsent。Vizardheardtheirvoicesgoinglikemill-clacksatthissacredhour，andsummonedthemratherroughly，asstatedabove。HisbackwastoZoe，andsherubbedherhandsgaylytoSeverne，andsenthimaflyingwhisper:"Oh，whatfun!Wearetheculprits，andtheyaretheonesscolded。"

Dinnerwaitedtenminutes，andthenthedefaultersappeared。Nothingwassaid，butVizardlookedratherglum；andAuntMaitlandcastaviciouslookatSeverneandZoe:theyhadmadeaforcedmarch，andoutflankedher。Shesatdown，andbidedhertime，likeafowlerwaitingtilltheduckscomewithinshot。

Buttheconversationwascommonplace，inconsecutive，shifty，andvague，anditwastwohoursbeforeanythingcamewithinshot:allthistimenotasoulsuspectedtheambushedfowler。

Atlast，Vizard，havingthrownoutoneofhishintsthatthefairsexareimperfect，Fanny，beingundertheinfluenceofMissMaitland"srevelations，venturedtosuggestthattheyhadnomorefaultsthanmen，and_certainly_werenotmoredeceitful。

"Indeed?"saidVizard。"Not——more——_deceitful!_Doyouspeakfromexperience?"

"Oh，no，no，"saidFanny，gettingratherfrightened。"Ionlythinkso，somehow。"

"Well，butyoumusthaveareason。MayIrespectfullyinquirewhethermoremenhavejiltedyouthanyouhavejilted?"

"Youmayinquireasrespectfullyasyoulike；butIshan"ttellyou。"

"Thatisright，MissDover，"saidSeverne；"don"tyouputupwithhisnonsense。Heknowsnothingaboutit:womenareangels，comparedwithmen。

Thewonderis，howtheycanwastesomuchtruthandconstancyandbeautyuponthefoulsex。Tomymind，thereisonlyonethingwebeatyouin；wedostickbyeachotherratherbetterthanyoudo。Youaretruertous。Wearealittletruertoeachother。"

"Notalittle，"suggestedVizard，dryly。

"Formypart，"saidZoe，blushingpinkatherboldnessinadvancinganopiniononsolargeamatter，"Ithinkthesecomparisonsarerathernarrow-minded。Whathavewetodowithbadpeople，maleorfemale?Agoodmanisgood，andagoodwomanisgood。Still，Idothinkthatwomenhavegreaterheartstolove，andmen，perhaps，greaterheartsforfriendship:"

then，blushingroseate，"evenintheshorttimewehavebeenherewehaveseentwogentlemengiveuppleasureforself-denyingfriendship。LordUxmoorgaveusallupforasickfriend。Mr。Severnedidmore，perhaps；

forhelostthatdivinesinger。Youwillneverhearhernow，Mr。

Severne。"

TheMaitlandgunwentoff:"Asickfriend!Mr。Severne?Ha，ha，ha!Yousillygirl，hehasgotnosickfriend。Hewasatthegaming-table。Thatwashissickfriend。"

Itwasaneffectivedischarge。Itwingedaduckortwo。Itkilled，asfollows:thetranquillity——thegoodhumor——andthecontentofthelittleparty。

Severnestarted，andstared，andlostcolor，andthencastatVizardavenomouslookneverseenonhisfacebefore；forhenaturallyconcludedthatVizardhadbetrayedhim。

Zoewasamazed，lookedinstantlyatSeverne，sawitwastrue，andturnedpaleathisevidentdiscomfiture。Herloverhadbeenguiltyofdeceit——meanandratherheartlessdeceit。

EvenFannywincedatthepointblankdenunciationofayoungman，whowashimselfpolitetoeverybody。Shewouldhavedoneitinaverydifferentway——insinuations，innuendo，etc。

"Theyhavefoundyouout，oldfellow，"saidVizard，merrily；"butyouneednotlookasifyouhadrobbedachurch。Hangitall!afellowhasgotarighttogamble，ifhechooses。Anyway，hepaidforhiswhistle；

forhelostthreehundredpounds。"

"Threehundredpounds!"criedtheterribleoldmaid。"Whereeverdidhegetthemtolose?"

Severnedivinedthathehadnothingtogainbyfictionhere；sohesaid，sullenly，"IgotthemfromVizard；butIgavehimvalueforthem。"

"Youneednotpublishourprivatetransactions，Ned，"saidVizard。"MissMaitland，thisisreallynotinyourdepartment。"

"Oh，yes，itis，"saidshe；"andsoyou"llfind。"

Thispertinacitylookedlikedefiance。Vizardrosefromhischair，bowedironically，withtheairofamannotdisposedforahotargument。

"Inthatcase——withpermission——I"llwithdrawtomyverandaand，inthat[hestruckalight]peaceful——[herehetookasuck]shade——"

"YouwillmeditateonthecharmsofInaKlosking。"

Vizardreceivedthispoisonedarrowinthesmalloftheback，ashewassaunteringout。Heturnedlikeashot，asifamanhadstruckhim，and，forasinglemoment，helookeddownrightterribleandwonderfullyunliketheeasy-goingHarringtonVizard。Buthesoonrecoveredhimself。"What!

youlisten，doyou?"saidhe；andturnedcontemptuouslyonhisheelwithoutanotherword。

Therewasanuneasy，chillingpause。MissMaitlandwouldhavegivensomethingtowithdrawherlastshot。Fannywasveryuncomfortableandfixedhereyesonthetable。Zoe，deeplyshockedatSeverne"sdeceit，wasnowamazedandpuzzledaboutherbrother。"InaKlosking!"inquiredshe；

"whoisthat?"

"AskMr。Severne，"saidMissMaitland，sturdily。

NowMr。Severnewassittingsilent，butwithrestlesseyes，meditatinghowheshouldgetoverthatfigmentofhisaboutthesickfriend。

Zoeturnedroundonhim，fixedhergloriouseyesfulluponhisface，andsaid，ratherimperiously，"Mr。Severne，whoisInaKlosking?"

Mr。Severnelookedupblanklyinherface，andsaidnothing。

Shecoloredatnotbeinganswered，andrepeatedherquestion(allthistimeFanny"seyeswerefixedontheyoungmanevenmorekeenlythanZoe"s)，"Who——andwhat——isInaKlosking?"

"Sheisapublicsinger。"

"Doyouknowher?"

"Yes；IheardhersingatVienna。"

"Yes，yes；butdoyouknowhertospeakto?"

Heconsideredhalfamoment，andthensaidhehadnotthathonor。"But，"

saidhe，ratherhurriedly，"somebodyorothertoldmeshehadcomeoutattheoperahereandmadeahit。"

"Whatin——Siebel?"

"Idon"tknow。ButIsawlargebillsoutwithhername。Shemadeher_de"but_inGounod"s"Faust。""

"Itis_my_Siebel!"criedZoe，rapturously。"Why，aunt，nowonderHarringtonadmiresher。Formypart，Iadoreher。"

_"You，_child!Thatisquiteadifferentmatter。"

"No，itisnot。Heislikeme；hehasonlyseenheronce，asIhave，andonthestage。"

"Fiddle-dee-dee。Itellyouheisinlovewithher，overheadandears。

Heiswonderfullyinflammableforawoman-hater。AskMr。Severne:heknows。"

"Mr。Severne，ismybrotherinlovewiththatlady?"

Severne"sturnhadcome；thatableyoungmansawhischance，anddidasgoodabitofactingaseverwasextemporizedevenbyanItalianmime。

"MissVizard，"saidhe，fixinghishazeleyesonherforthefirsttime，inawaythatmadeherfeelhispower，"whatpassedinconfidencebetweentwofriendsoughttobesacred。Don"t——you——thinkso?"(Thegirlquivered，rememberingthesecrethehadconfessedtoher。)"MissMaitlandhasdoneyourbrotherandmethehonortolistentooursecrets。Sheshallrepeatthem，ifshethinksitdelicate；butIshallnot，withoutVizard"sconsent；and，morethanthat，theconversationseemstometobetakingtheturnofcastingblameandridiculeandIdon"tknowwhatonthebest-hearted，kindest-hearted，truest-hearted，noblest，andmanliestmanIknow。Ideclinetotakeanyfurthershareinit。"

Withtheselastwordsinhismouth，hestuckhishandsdefiantlyintohispocketsandstalkedoutintotheveranda，lookingeveryinchaman。

Zoefoldedherarmsandgazedafterhimwithundisguisedadmiration。Howwelleverythinghedidbecamehim；hisfiringup——his_brusquerie——_theverymovementsofhisbody，allsopiquant，charming，andunwomanly!Ashevanishedfromheradmiringeyes，sheturned，withflamingcheeks，onMissMaitland，andsaid，"Well，aunt，youhavedriventhembothoutatthewindow；now，saysomethingprettytoFannyandme，anddriveusoutatthedoor。"

MissMaitlandhungherhead；shesawshehadthemallagainstherbutFanny，andFannywasatrimmer。Shesaid，sorrowfully，"No，Zoe。IfeelhowunattractiveIhavemadetheroom。Ihavedrivenawaythegodsofyouridolatry——theyareonlyidolsofclay；butthatyoucan"tbelieve。I

willbanishnobodyelse，exceptacross-grained，butrespectableoldwoman，whoistooexperienced，andtoomuchsouredbyit，topleaseyoungpeoplewhenthingsaregoingwrong。"

Withthisshetookherbed-candle，andretired。

Zoehadaninwardstruggle。AsMissMaitlandopenedherbedroomdoor，shecalledtoher:"Aunt!oneword。Wasityouthatorderedthefireinmybedroom?"

Now，ifshehadreceivedtheanswersheexpected，shemeanttosay，"Thenpleaseletmeforgeteverythingelseyouhavesaidordoneto-day。"ButMissMaitlandstaredalittle，andsaid，"Fireinyourbedroom?no。"

"Oh!ThenIhavenothingtothankyouforthisday，"saidZoe，withallthehardnessofyouth；though，asageneralrule，shehadnothershareofit。

Theoldladywincedvisibly，butshemadeacreditableanswer。"Then，mydear，youshallhavemyprayersthisnight；anditdoesnotmattermuchwhetheryouthankmeforthemornot。"

Asshedisappeared，Zoeflungherselfwearilyonacouch，andverysoonbegantocry。Fannyrantoherandnestledclosetoher，andthetwohadarocktogether，Zoecrying，andFannycoaxingandcomforting。

"Ah!"sighedZoe，"thiswasthehappiestdayofmylife；andseehowitends。Quarreling；anddeceit!theoneIhate，theotherIdespise。No，neveragain，untilIhavesaidmyprayers，andamjustgoingtosleep，willIcry"Ogiornofelice!"asIdidthisafternoon，whentherainwaspouringonme，butmyheartwasallinaglow。"

TheseprettylittlelamentationsofyouthwereinterruptedbyMr。Severneslippingawayfromhisfriend，totryandrecoverlostground。

HewascoollyreceivedbyZoe；thenhelookeddismayed，butaffectednottounderstand；thenZoepinchedFanny，whichmeant"Idon"tchoosetoputhimonhisdefense；butIamdyingtohearifhehasanythingtosay。"

ThereuponFannyobeyedthatsignificantpinch，andsaid，"Mr。Severne，mycousinisnotawomanoftheworld；sheisacountrygirl，withold-fashionedromanticnotionsthatamanshouldbeabovetellingfibs。I

haveknownherlongerthanyou，andIseeshecan"tunderstandyourpassingoffthegambling-tableforasickfriend。"

"Why，Ineverdid，"saidhe，asboldasbrass。

"Mr。Severne!"

"MissDover，mysickfriendwasat"TheGoldenStar。"That"sasmallhotelinadifferentdirectionfromtheKursaal。Iwastherefromseveno"clocktillnine。Youaskthewaiter，ifyoudon"tbelieveme。"

Fannygiggledatthisinadvertentspeech；butZoe"sfeelingsweretoodeeplyengagedtoshootfunflying。"Fanny"criedshe，eagerly，"Iheardhimtellthecoachmantodrivehimtothatveryplace，"TheGoldenStar。""

"Really?"saidFanny，mystified。

"IndeedIdid，dear。Iremember"TheGoldenStar"distinctly。

"Ladies，Iwastheretillnineo"clock。ThenIstartedforthetheater。

UnfortunatelythetheaterisattachedtotheKursaal。IthoughtIwouldjustlookinforafewminutes。Infact，Idon"tthinkIwastherehalfanhour。ButMissMaitlandisquiterightinonething。Ilostmorethantwohundredpounds，allthroughplayingonafalsesystem。Ofcourse，I

knowIhadnobusinesstogothereatall，whenImighthavebeenbyyourside。"

"AndheardLaKlosking。"

"Itwasdevilishbadtaste，andyoumaywellbesurprisedandoffended。"

"No，no；notatthat，"saidZoe。

"Buthangitall，don"tmakeafellowworsethanheis!WhyshouldI

inventasickfriend?IsupposeIhavearighttogototheKursaalifI

choose。Atanyrate，Imeantogoto-morrowafternoon，andwinapotofmoney。Hindermewhocan。"

Zoebeamedwithpleasure。"Thatspitefuloldwoman!Iamashamedofmyself。Ofcourseyou_have。_Itbecomesamantosay_jeveux；_anditbecomesawomantoyield。Forgiveourunworthydoubts。WewillallgototheKursaalto-morrow。"

Thereconciliationwascomplete；and，toaddtoZoe"shappiness，shemadealittlediscovery。Rosacameintoseeifshewantedanything。That，youmustknow，wasRosa"swayofsaying，"Itisverylate。_I_"mtired；sothesooner_you_gotobed，thebetter。"AndZoewasbynaturesoconsideratethatsheoftenwenttobedmoreforRosa"sconveniencethanherowninclination。

Butthistimeshesaid，sharply，"Yes，Ido。Iwanttoknowwhohadmyfirelightedformeinthemiddleofsummer。"

"Why，squire，tobesure，"saidRosa。

"What——_my_brother!"