The Europeans
tea, and Robert Acton also, who now regularly asked for a place at this generous repast or made h
ys, Robert," he said. "I should thin
cton more frequent?"
fford. "It seems as if you
said the Baroness. "Give me ti
pieces after you g
that familiar way," Clifford s
wondered if Felix had been teaching him, according to the programm
ing, looked in vain, in her face, for the traces of a guilty passion. Mr. Brand sat down by Ger
had a large morsel of cake before him; but he fingered it withou
not allow him to make her believe she was wrong. She thought of what Felix had said to her; she wished indeed Mr. Brand would marry Charlotte. She looked away from him and spoke no more. Mr. Brand ended by eating his ca
ecause you were not alone," he began;
an old friend
"I thought I was prepared to hear you speak in th
t else I can say
Gertrude wished he would go away. "He is certainly v
dvise
I know yo
," said Gertrude,
e than you are-to please hi
What do you mean?" ask
straight-forwardness, "He doesn't care for the
r head. "I don't care for the great ques
en you didn't say th
l of nonsense. And it depends," she added, "upon what you call
gs you talk about
gainst my cousin, Mr. Brand," said
on of the voice, "I should be very sorry to do anything dishonorable. But
ay it to
. Brand. "That is the tone he would
de declared. "That is probably what I
s I said just now,
e made me so!" Mr. Brand stood gazing at her, and she went on, "Why shouldn't I be frivolous, if I want? One has a right to be frivolous, if it's
pale, as if he had been frightened. "I don't th
nse. But it is only with you that I talk
ain, when you are less
f it prevents you altogether, in future. Your speaking to me irritates
, at the dusky garden and the faint summer stars. After which, suddenly tur
ically borrowed this ingenuity. "I am not sorry for you," Gertrude said; "for in paying so much attention to me you are following a shadow-you are wasting something precious. There is something else you might have tha
the garden gate. It was Mr. Brand going away and bidding good-night to Charlotte, who had walked down with him from the house. Gertrude saw that the parting was prolonged. Then she turned her back upon it. She had not gone very far, howeve
, dear, if I say somet
to say," said Gertrude. "
lotte demanded. And as her sister made no answ
s he don
, a great many times. You told me that he helped you to struggle with your-you
nothing. Then, "Was my te
ng you, Gertrude
hen?" her sister deman
. Brand-reminding you
l with her little laugh. "He can take back the
you talk this way I shall almost believe it. Think of all we owe Mr. Brand. Think of how he has always exp
g at her sister. "I know he is very good
Only he is so different. Mr. Brand is much nearer to us. I should never think of goi
is more to you; yes, much more. Charlotte," s
harlotte; and her sister saw
nd her. "I wish he would
ou must not say such things!" sh
you say, and he likes
of you!" Charlotte
d pitiless. "Not if it's true," she a
don't sa
ll him so!" s
rtrude!" her sist
f. I will say, 'Why don't you marry Charlo
you are changed!"
g him from speaking to me!" And with this she walked away, very conscious of what she h
e, behind a light wagon, over the damp autumn roads, a pair of beautifully matched sorrel horses. Clifford's vision of the coming years was very simple; its most definite features were this element of familiar matrimony and the duplication of his resources for trotting. He had not yet asked his cousin to marry him; but he meant to do so as soon as he had taken his degree. Lizzie was serenely conscious of his intention, and she had made up her mind that he would improve. Her brother, who was very fond of this light, quick, competent little Lizzie, saw on his side no reason to interpose. It seemed to him a graceful social law that Clifford and his sister should become engaged; he himself was not engaged, but everyone else, fortunately, was not such a fool as he. He was fond of Clifford, as well, and had his own way-of which it must be confessed he was a little ashamed-of looking at those aberrations which had led to the young man's compulsory retirement from the neighboring seat of learning. Acton had seen the world, as he said to himself; he had been to China and had knocked about among men. He had learned the essential difference between a nice
ress things rather brutally. I feel this to be the case, for instance, when I say that she had primarily detected such an aid to advancement in the person of Robert Acton, but that she had afterwards remembered that a prudent archer has always a second bowstring. Eugenia was a woman of finely-mingled motive, and her intentions were never sensibly gross. She had a sort of aesthetic ideal for Clifford wh
rl, and fellows of his age called only upon young girls. He exaggerated her age; she seemed to him an old woman; it was happy that the Baroness, with all her intelligence, was incapable of guessing this. But gradually it struck Clifford that vis
ur," she said to him one afternoon. "Of
I know some fellows who have been to Europ
your idea of fun. Your friend
d?" Cliffo
ed no relations." This was one of a certain number of wor
, in Paris; I know t
is. No, you must go, you know; it is not a thing
l," said Clifford
health, my poor child.
any manners!" g
is a pity you might not have come while I was living in-in Germany. I would have introduced you; I had a charming little circle. You would perhaps have been
cle. What was he to begin, and what was her little circle? His ideas about her marriage had a good deal of vagueness; but they were in so far definite as
ny," he said; it seemed to him t
e, smiling with her lips
scruples?"
s?" said
extremely improper you are so terribly proper. I dare say you think that, owing to my irregular mar
estly distressed. "I never t
ters. They say to each other that here I am on my good behavior, but t
getically, "they don't say suc
ife-time. I see very few women; but those are women of rank. So, my dear young Puritan, you needn't be afraid. I am not in the least one of those who think that the society of women who have lost their place in the vrai monde is necessary to form a young man. I have never taken that tone. I have kept my place myself, an
nguage-what she meant, and that she should mean what he knew, that he could hard
" And Clifford thought her a very amusing person indeed. "But remember," she sai
him, point-blank, "Are you seriously
a portentous and embarrassing sound; he hesitated about assenting, lest he should commi
the Baroness demanded. "Tho
or not," Clifford rejoined. "But I
roness explained. "No, he must seem to know he is observed, and to think it natural he should be; but he must appear perfectly used to it. Now you haven't that, Clif
catch me saying tha
lked about, and yet not seem to know it. You will be talked about, of course, with me; it will b
g and laughing. "I shall mind
mind it a little; especially if you have a passion for Miss Acton. Voyons; a
you want to kno
. If one is arranging a marri
anging anything,
tend to marry
ct I shall do
and closed her eyes, as if she were tired. Then openin
t girl in this place
e; she would be charming anywher
I'm not e
At your age that i
roness with some audacity
s sacred a
e are not!" s
young. A young man in your position must choose and compare; he must see the world first. Depend upon it," she added, "you should not set
," said Clifford. "It seems to me it wi
looked at h
been to school to a clever woman-probably a little older than himself. And you must
on that the Baroness thought her the
head. "No, she do
says," asked Clifford, "is
hat is!" s
eatly to bring about a marriage between Mr. Clifford Wentworth and Miss El