Our Own Set

red Sempaly's room in the Palazzo di Venezia, and discovered him s

b up to me. I must show you my Francia--the dealer who sold it to me de

you whether you will drive ou

Sempaly; "and in any case I cannot join you for I am g

uyn looking un

cup of coffee?" a

imself countenance; by accident he took up the book that Sempaly had been reading when he came in. It was Charles Lamb's Ess

s to be decided to-day at the Palatine." Truyn shut the book sharply and threw it down; then, setting h

nd to marry

ut as Truyn said no more, simply gazing fixedly at him, he took up an attitude o

uppose

ution to carry out your intentions," said Truyn,

opposition and his cousin's calm consent, not to say encouragement, put him in the position of a man who, after straining every m

n? I have long since run through all my fortune, if I took what my brother would regard as so monstrous a step he would cut off all supplies, and Zinka is not of age. I might to be sure take to selling dripping t

able view of the impossibility of your marriage with Zink

, while Sempaly, his hands in his pockets, was walking up and down the room, kicking and s

laimed, standing still and facing his cousin. "Sterzl has never found

little, but did not lo

d fetch the stars from heaven for his sister if he could. He has never for a

ossible!" cr

"He is too blind to think his

tly right--but the pressure of circumstances-

he windows, with his elbows on his knees and his chin bet

id, "what induced you to mix

e circumstance that last evening, before you came into the 'Falcone,' Mesdames De Gandry and Ferguson allowed them

hich the words: 'Sacred responsibility--due regard for the duties imposed by Providence,' were freely thrown in. Truyn's handsome

matter is quiet simple: Do you l

e said f

courage to face the annoyances that a m

ly wa

ce; you must break off the intimacy, as

will attempt," cried Sem

emoval from Rome, I shall feel myself compelled to give Sterzl a hint--or you

paused and said hesitatingly: "Do not take it amiss, Nicki--I could do no less

ia. "Is this a time to be talking of inherited responsibilities and the duties of position--now! Good heavens!" He lighted a

that the count, who was usually so courteous, should have taken no

iven her his name and she gave him his child. His life was spoilt. He had a noble and a loving heart but he might not bestow it on any woman; he must carry it about in his breast where it grew heavy to bear. His love for his little girl, devoted as he was to her, was not enough to live by, and a bitter sense of craving lurked in his spirit. For many years he had lived a great deal abroad; his mind had expanded and he had shed several of his purely Austrian prejudices. At home he was still regarded as a staunch conservative because he always passivel

but in unbounded benevolence, and Sempaly's nature--experimental, gropi

is the most completely selfish being I ever met with--a thorough epicurean in

e admitted it to himself, had made a very deep impression, and though he fought against it he could no longer avoid looking the situation in the face. To get himself transferred to some other capital, to give up all hi

erness who is a dozen years older than himself; when he contemplated the possibility of his marrying Zinka Sterzl after all, it was with the certainty that his feeling for her was not a mere transient madness, but that it had its roots in the depths of his nature. Every form and kind of enjoyment had been at his command and he had hated them all. Things in which other men of his age and position could find excitement and interest roused his fastidious nature to disgust. Life had long since become to him a vain and empty show, when h

t with the dew off a rosebud. He loved her now--suddenly and madly. Interesting women had hitherto utterly failed to interest him; they were like brooklets filled by the rain: the muddiness of the water prevented their shallowness being immediately perceptible; the storms of life had spoilt their clearness and purity; Zinka, on the contrary, was like a mountain lake whose waters ar

to the study of women," she was made up of such a variety of characteristics. In the midst of her childlike moods she had such unexpected depth of thought, such flashes of wisdom; her wildest vagaries were so original and often ended so suddenly in wistful

and Sempaly betook himself to the club, where he lost several games at ecarté--he was greatly annoyed. Then he went h