The Red Rat’s Daughter

kind of you to come and see me, for I expect you were considerably surprised at receiving my poor little note yesterday. What you must have thought of it I dare not think; but I must console mysel

as much when you have h

back upon him, and he could not help feeling that, plausible as her words were, and desirous as

expected to say something. “I am, as you know, only too glad to do anything I can to h

is about Katherine. The poor child, as I have r

of he knew not what taking possession of him. “But I

I think it depends, if you will permit me to s

urprise. “How can that be? I should never forgive mys

r mother, perhaps; at any rate, old enough to be able to say what I am going to say, without fear of giving offence, or of having my motives misconstrued. Monsieur Browne, as you are well aware, Katherine is only a young girl, and, like other young girls, she has her dreams. Into those dreams you have come, and what is the result? I will leave it to your common-sense, and perhaps a little to your vanity, to read between the lines. Had you been differently situated it would not have mattered

f of the world preys upon you for your money, while a large number will not be friendly to you lest they may be supposed to be doing

aw that she had overshot her mark, and s

ieur Brown,” she said. “I only remarked that I

id Browne a little reproachfully. “But perhaps

view,” she replied. “I will show you why. Before I do so, however, I want you to g

y promise that,”

to collect her thoughts. When she spoke again it was with an abruptness that was most disconcerting.

ne tried to speak, he found he was incapable of uttering a word. And yet, though she seemed so c

feel sure you will understand how much all this means, not only to her but to me. Since my poor husband

you have me do?”

she continued: “Ah, Monsieur Browne, you do not know what it is to love, and to love in vain. The favou

y should I go away? What if I l

a little cry as i

rent,” she cried, clasping her hands

his feet. “For I do love her, and with my whole heart and soul, as I s

th a most amiable eccentricity; she sprang from her chair, and, taking his hand in hers, pressed it to her heart. If her behaviour counted for anything, t

inger in warning. “It is Katherine! I implore y

on my not doing so

n at finding Browne there may be better imagined than described. But if the position were embarrassing for her, how much more so

n her voice which told the young man that, although she wished him to think otherwise, she really stood in some awe of her companion. “We

knew she was regarding him with a perplexed and somewhat disappointed look, as if she were not quite certain whether he was telling the truth. She did not know how to account f

closed behind her, things passed from bad to worse with the couple she had left behind. Browne knew exactly what he wante

cing towards the girl, he managed to obtain possession

s, he looked into

e that trembled with emotion, “

Madame Bernstein,” she faltered,

said at once, which cannot be delayed any longer. I would have spoken to you in London, had you vouchsafed me an opportunity, but you left so suddenly that I never had the chance of ope

oured to withdraw her hands from his

,” he continued with relentless persistence. “Y

ered. “I cannot bear it. You do

you on your part know how deeply in earnest I am. Try to remember,

t I cannot listen to you,” she

, that you cannot bear to hear me speak

e, I cannot, I must not hear you any further. Please do not say any mo

t you. I believe that you love me, Katherine; upon my honour I do. If so, why should yo

t is

ou be m

time as if her heart were breaking. “It is use

ll be,” replied Browne. “If you love me,

. You do not know ho

ve it. It shall cease to exist. Come,

d not

me. Say that you do, and nothing shall part us; I swear it. If you do not, t

at him with her beauti

d, in a louder voice, “but what is the use of

ent before. “Now that I know you love me, I can act. I am not afraid of anything.” Before she could protest he had taken her

and go away before it is too late? I tell you again and again that you are deluding

uietly but determinedly. “In the meantime, remember that I am your affianced lover

ed from one to the other as if to find out whether they had arr

onour to inform you that mademoi

n a last entreaty. “You must not s

ately. In her usual manner, she expressed her delight at the arrangement

ars to see you happily married, Katherine. Now I can feel that my work in life is done, and that

eautiful ideas, they were far from being a true record of her feelings. Such sentiments, however, were the proper ones to use at t

orrow in the country together. I should like to take her to Fontainebleau. As you are aware, there are a number of pictures there, which,

her own reasons for not desiring to thwart Browne at the commencement of his engagement, and just when he was likely to prove most useful to her. Accordingly she expressed great delight at the arrangement, and hoped that they would spend a happy day together. Having said this, she wip

” said Browne enthusiastically, taking no notice whatsoever

est, but she caught Madame’

Madame. “If you will make the arrangemen

en, at eight? Or would you prefer

Madame, “and at eight. We will make

nger, Browne bade Madame good-bye, and went across t

d, and as he did s

desire, he put the following question to her, so softly that Madame, stand

imilar tone. “But I cannot help f

st the very best and wisest thing a woman could do. You must never say such a thing again.