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there was a stronger one； in this particular case； in the fear of
agreeing with her niece； who had rejected him。 His situation might
be held to have improved when Mr。 Tramore was taken so gravely ill
that with regard to his recovery those about him left their eyes to
speak for their lips； and in the light of the poor gentleman's recent
death it was doubtless better than it had ever been。
He was only a quarter of an hour with the girl； but this gave him
time to take the measure of it。 After he had spoken to her about her
bereavement； very much as an especially mild missionary might have
spoken to a beautiful Polynesian； he let her know that he had learned
from her companions the very strong step she was about to take。 This
led to their spending together ten minutes which； to her mind； threw
more light on his character than anything that had ever passed
between them。 She had always felt with him as if she were standing
on an edge； looking down into something decidedly deep。 To…day the
impression of the perpendicular shaft was there； but it was rather an
abyss of confusion and disorder than the large bright space in which
she had figured everything as ranged and pigeon…holed； presenting the
appearance of the labelled shelves and drawers at a chemist's。 He
discussed without an invitation to discuss； he appealed without a
right to appeal。 He was nothing but a suitor tolerated after
dismissal； but he took strangely for granted a participation in her
affairs。 He assumed all sorts of things that made her draw back。 He
implied that there was everything now to assist them in arriving at
an agreement； since she had never informed him that he was positively
objectionable； but that this symmetry would be spoiled if she should
not be willing to take a little longer to think of certain
consequences。 She was greatly disconcerted when she saw what
consequences he meant and at his reminding her of them。 What on
earth was the use of a lover if he was to speak only like one's
grandmother and one's aunt？ He struck her as much in love with her
and as particularly careful at the same time as to what he might say。
He never mentioned her mother； he only alluded； indirectly but
earnestly； to the 〃step。〃 He disapproved of it altogether； took an
unexpectedly prudent； politic view of it。 He evidently also believed
that she would be dragged down； in other words that she would not be
asked out。 It was his idea that her mother would contaminate her； so
that he should find himself interested in a young person discredited
and virtually unmarriageable。 All this was more obvious to him than
the consideration that a daughter should be merciful。 Where was his
religion if he understood mercy so little； and where were his talent
and his courage if he were so miserably afraid of trumpery social
penalties？ Rose's heart sank when she reflected that a man supposed
to be first…rate hadn't guessed that rather than not do what she
could for her mother she would give up all the Engineers in the
world。 She became aware that she probably would have been moved to
place her hand in his on the spot if he had come to her saying 〃Your
idea is the right one； put it through at every cost。〃 She couldn't
discuss this with him； though he impressed her as having too much at
stake for her to treat him with mere disdain。 She sickened at the
revelation that a gentleman could see so much in mere vulgarities of
opinion； and though she uttered as few words as possible； conversing
only in sad smiles and headshakes and in intercepted movements toward
the door； she happened； in some unguarded lapse from her reticence；
to use the expression that she was disappointed in him。 He caught at
it and； seeming to drop his field…glass； pressed upon her with
nearer； tenderer eyes。
〃Can I be so happy as to believe； then； that you had thought of me
with some confidence； with some faith？〃
〃If you didn't suppose so； what is the sense of this visit？〃 Rose
asked。
〃One can be faithful without reciprocity；〃 said the young man。 〃I
regard you in a light which makes me want to protect you even if I
have nothing to gain by it。〃
〃Yet you speak as if you thought you might keep me for yourself。〃
〃For YOURSELF。 I don't want you to suffer。〃
〃Nor to suffer yourself by my doing so；〃 said Rose； looking down。
〃Ah； if you would only marry me next month！〃 he broke out
inconsequently。
〃And give up going to mamma？〃 Rose waited to see if he would say
〃What need that matter？ Can't your mother come to us？〃 But he said
nothing of the sort； he only answered …
〃She surely would be sorry to interfere with the exercise of any
other affection which I might have the bliss of believing that you
are now free； in however small a degree； to entertain。〃
Rose knew that her mother wouldn't be sorry at all； but she contented
herself with rejoining； her hand on the door： 〃Good…bye。 I sha'n't
suffer。 I'm not afraid。〃
〃You don't know how terrible； how cruel； the world can be。〃
〃Yes； I do know。 I know everything！〃
The declaration sprang from her lips in a tone which made him look at
her as he had never looked before； as if he saw something new in her
face； as if he had never yet known her。 He hadn't displeased her so
much but that she would like to give him that impression； and since
she felt that she was doing so she lingered an instant for the
purpose。 It enabled her to see； further； that he turned red； then to
become aware that a carriage had stopped at the door。 Captain Jay's
eyes； from where he stood； fell upon this arrival； and the nature of
their glance made Rose step forward to look。 Her mother sat there；
brilliant； conspicuous； in the eternal victoria； and the footman was
already sounding the knocker。 It had been no part of the arrangement
that she should come to fetch her； it had been out of the questiona
stroke in such bad taste as would have put Rose in the wrong。 The
girl had never dreamed of it； but somehow； suddenly； perversely； she
was glad of it now； she even hoped that her grandmother and her aunt
were looking out upstairs。
〃My mother has come for me。 Good…bye；〃 she repeated； but this time
her visitor had got between her and the door。
〃Listen to me before you go。 I will give you a life's devotion；〃 the
young man pleaded。 He really barred the way。
She wondered whether her grandmother had told him that if her flight
were not prevented she would forfeit money。 Then； vividly； it came
over her that this would be what he was occupied with。 〃I shall
never think of youlet me go！〃 she cried； with passion。
Captain Jay opened the door； but Rose didn't see his face； and in a
moment she was out of the house。 Aunt Julia； who was sure to have
been hovering； had taken flight before the profanity of the knock。
〃Heavens； dear； where did you get your mourning？〃 the lady in the
victoria asked of her daughter as they drove away。
CHAPTER II。
Lady Maresfield had given her boy a push in his plump back and had
said to him； 〃Go and speak to her now； it's your chance。〃 She had
for a long time wanted this scion to make himself audible to Rose
Tramore； but the opportunity was not easy to come by。 The case was
complicated。 Lady Maresfield had four daughters； of whom only one
was married。 It so happened moreover that this one； Mrs。 Vaughan…
Vesey； the only person in the world her mother was afraid of； was the
most to be reckoned with。 The Honourable Guy was in appearance all
his mother's child； though he was really a simpler soul。 He was
large and pink； large； that is； as to everything but the eyes； which
were diminishing points； and pink as to everything but the hair；
which was comparable； faintly； to the hue of the richer rose。 He had
also； it must be conceded； very small neat teeth； which made his
smile look like a young lady's。 He had no wish to resemble any such
person； but he was perpetually smiling； and he smiled more than ever
as he approached Rose Tramore； who； looking altogether； to his mind；
as a pretty girl should； and wearing a soft white opera…cloak over a
softer black dress； leaned alone against the wall of the vestibule at
Covent Gar