The Europeans

what, except her telling him that she had taken her resolution with regard to the Prince Adolf; for Madame Münster's visit had made no difference in their relations. He ca

osaic sentiment-curiosity. It was true, as Acton with his quietly cogitative habit observed to himself, that curiosity, pushed to a given point, might become a romantic passion; and he certainly thought enough about this charming woman to make him restless and even a little melancholy. It puzzled and vexed him at times to feel that he was not more ardent. He was not in the least bent upon remaining a bachelor. In his younger years he had been-or he had tried to be-of the opinion that it would be a good deal "jollier" not to marry, and he had flattered himself that his single condition was something of a citadel. It was a citadel, at all events, of which he had long since leveled the outworks. He had removed the guns from the ramparts; he had lowered the draw-bridge across the moat.

ut the Baroness, who, seen at this distance, seemed a truly brilliant figure. He saw at Newport a great many pretty women, who certainly were figures as brilliant as beautiful light dresses could make them; but though they talked a great deal-and the Baroness's strong point was perhaps also her conversation-Madame Münster appeared to lose nothing by the comparison. He wished she had come to Newport too. Would it not be possible to make up, as they said, a party for visiting the famous watering-place and invite Eugenia to join it? It was true that the complete satisfaction would be to spend a fortnight at Newport with Eugenia alone. It would be a great pleasure to see her, in society,

he doors and windows were open, and their emptiness was made clear by the shafts of lamp-light from the parlors. Entering the house, he found Mr. Wentworth sitting alone in one of these apartments, enga

, seated, with Mr. Brand, upon the piazza. They were conversing with their customary animation. I suppose they

Acton. And on Mr. Wentworth's ass

evening. You must have seen h

d to her to com

ng a visitor," said the old man

ing Clifford, he h

e was going to see his cousin. Privately, he reflected that if Lizzie Acton had had no news of his son, Clifford must have gone

laughing. And then, coming to the point, "If Lizzie is

e did not know whether it was not to be wished that Clifford, after all, might have gone to Bos

ill?" Ac

ve been t

he matter

ntworth, "I infer s

talk with Mr. Wentworth. At the end of ten minutes he took up his hat and

oked at him a moment. "Are

d that he had proposed to go over

t, at least," said M

that!" cried Acton, laughing

ew lines. "If we have ever had any virtue among us, we ha

He stood in her little garden; the long window of her parlor was open, and he could see the white curtains, with the lamp-light shining through them, swaying softly to and fro in the warm night wind. There was a sort of excitement in the idea of seeing Madame Münster again; he became aware that his heart was beating rather faster than usual. It was this that made

n instant, what was the matter with her. But the next moment she had begun to smile and had put

rned from my jour

d," she repeated, lookin

house," Acton continued. "I

own his hat and stick; he was looking at her, conscious that there was in fact a great charm in seeing her

" Acton declared; "and we n

ir, while he took a place near her. "We are in the middle, then?" she asked. "Wa

y, nor the da

ow how many

red of it,"

folded. "That is a terrible accusation, bu

" said Acton. "I expecte

intelligence. I hope yo

red. "I would much rather

e Baroness. "You are contrasting my

ver get tired o

foreign woman, with irritable n

you since I went away," sai

-that is what ha

y that you have mi

worth your making a note of. I am very di

moments. "You have broke

t her chair, and b

. I shall pull mys

rd. If you are bored, you needn't

as that," the Baroness answer

patience; that

atience you are disloyal to your own people. Patien

ainly," said Acton, laughing. "Nevert

Baroness, with a sudden vehemen

ple circle over the way; she had mingled in its plain, provincial talk; she had shared its meagre and savorless pleasures. She had set herself a task, and she had rigidly performed it. She had conformed to the angular conditions of New England life, and she had had the tact and pluck to carry it off as if she liked them. Acton felt a more downright need than he had ever felt before to tell her that he admired her and that she struck him as a very superior woman. All along, hitherto, he

ly turned her eyes toward Robert Acton. "What can be the motive," she asked, "of

y. "I suppose it does, and I thank you for tell

king at him. "How do y

dow and looked out. He stood there, thinking a moment, and then he turned back. "You know that document

she looked very grave. "What a

times. I thought it probable you would tell me yourself. The questio

ent; and then, "I think I hav

ment, a little star that twinkled through the lattice of the piazza. There were at any rate offers enough he could make; perhaps he had hitherto not been sufficiently explic

she held, with both hands, to her mouth. Over the top of the fan her eyes wer

her. "Shouldn't you like to travel about and see something of the c

u, do yo

delighted t

alo

d yet with a serious air. "Well,

ou are," she answered,

ou mean-w

I have been used to all my life. I

t you to expect insults," said Acton, "I am glad I

ss declared, "you need go to no further

eyes only showing above it. There was a moment's silence, and then he said,

The expressive eyes of Madame Münste

you-at Niagar

ious, Eugenia had fixed her gaze. Clifford Wentworth stood there, blushing and looking rather awkward. The Baron

e here?" exc

said Madame Münster. "He w

he only fanned himself with his hat. "You chose a

!" said Cliff

asked. "You should have come b

ment. "So I have-come back.

are very stupid, my poor b

Clifford, "

an when he has safely returned from

hought-I thought you were--" and he

at Newport, eh? So

ild!" said Madame Müns

clever child; and then, with one of his l

asked Acton, when he was gone.

listening a moment. "The matter-the matter"-she

ad been drinking a lit

I have cured him. And in r

nothing about her. He began to laugh. "I don't wonder at his passion! But I

He had not been in the studio.

it? For wh

idnight-passing only through the orchard and through Felix's painting-room, which ha

quite without the romantic element. He tried to laugh again, but he felt rather too serious, and after a moment's hesitat

our s

e decidedly intim

nia, smiling, "h

has. But I always supposed that Clifford ha

e monster! The next time he becomes sentimental I w

ment. "You had better

boy of twenty and a little girl who is still with her governess-your sister has no governess? Well, then, who is never away from her mamma-a young couple, in short, between whom you have noticed nothing beyond an exchange of the childish pleasantries characteristic of their age, are on the point of setting up as man and wife." The Baroness spoke with a certain exaggerated volubility which was in contrast with the languid grace that had characterized her manner befor

ey are still sitting up at the other house. You

do over there. I am a quiet little humdrum woman; I have rigid rules and I keep them. One of

though Acton bade her good-night and dep

had a natural desire to make it tally with Madame Münster's account of Clifford's disaffection; but his ingenuity, finding itself unequal to the tas

question," Acton said. "What were you

no means like a young man with a romantic

ly what I don'

same," said Clifford; "and unl

osy young kinsman. "She said she couldn't fancy what had got

ttle alarmed. "Oh, come," he

ally to the house you left her alone and spent your time in

growled Clif

know me to tel

out of the discussion, for his sarcastic powers. "Wel

someone

d you co

You had been with

eard your step outside. I

asked Acton,

o go-to go out

een a chair at hand he would have sat down. "W

d, "father doesn't l

bore to make any comment upon this assertion.

words-to me. But I know it worries him; and I want to stop worr

coming to

g father. Eugenia knows everything," Clifford

terrogatively, "Euge

was not fathe

hy did

"Well, I was afraid it was. And bes

nk it was I?

idn't

. "But you didn't go," he pr

y were no use. I waited there a good while, and then, suddenly, I felt ashamed. I didn't want to be hiding away from my own father. I couldn't stand it any longer. I bolted out, and when I found it was

ed, "when one remembers that you were very impruden

s that however he may have failed of felicity in behavior he is ext

ast. And then, laying his hand on Clifford's shoulder, he added, "Tell

ifford, almost sha