A Modern Chronicle -- Volume 02

questions and praised so highly the work with which the indiscreet young

later on, we can find a husband for you, and you will marry and settle

And it would be wonderful to live in such a place. And as for marri

ot. But, my dear, I am afraid you are destined to have many admirers. If you had not

d Honora, deprecatingly,

"I am not a flatterer. I am telling you something

e had cast down from the tower of his sophomore dignity with such apparent ease; and of certain

Roberts and the

third Joshua, but Honora captivated him by playing two sets of tennis in the broiling sun, at th

ou were that kind

Honora, passing her arm around his sh

grew s

you-you could play t

eized his chin and ti

aid, "look at me and

, "I thought you wouldn't want

Honora. "You thought I

d passionately. "I think you're a trump.

y day you like

in progress on the porch, and if a hush in the conversation and the scraping of chairs is any sign of a sensation, this happened when our heroine appeared in the doorway. And Mrs. Holt, in the act of lifting the hot-water kettle; put it down again. Whether or not there was approval in the l

selle," he murmured, but h

beautifully made, and his coat was quite absurdly cut in at the waist; his mustache was en-croc, and its points resembled those of the Spanish bayonets in the conservatory: he might

he was not stout; he was merely well fed, as Prosperity should be. His features were comparatively regular, his mustache a light brown, his eyes hazel. The fact that he came from that mysterious metropolis, the heart of which is Wall Street, not only excused but legitimized the pink shirt and the neatly knotted green tie, the pepper-and-salt check suit that was loose and at the same time well-fitting, and the jewelled ring on

ou come up?

rday," answ

rgely and somewhat elaborately engraved, "New York is played out this time of year-isn't

olitan and blissful existence which permitted "dropping in at" such a place. Moreover, Mr. Spence was plainl

to get into the cou

sh a tacit understanding between them. It was natural that he should look upon Silverdale as a slow place, and there was something delicious in his taking, for granted that she

it is properly inhabited," he sa

tants do you req

a thousand of the wrong kind. It is a good rule in business, when

it was something to Mr. Spence's taste, a retort was out of the question. Then, as though she were doomed that day to complicity, her eyes chanced to encounter an appealing glance from the Vicomte, who was searching with the courage of despair for an English word

Honora, "will you have the kindness to

rhaps you would like to come, too, Howard," she added to Mr. Spence; "

" said the Vicomte to H

erested in

country,"

tive," said Mrs. Holt. "Miss Leffingwell was up at s

For example-" and he was about to approach her to enlarge on this congenial

with the view from the

w our famous American l

as treated

omte and their hostess crossing the lawn in front of them. Mr. Spence paused a moment to

-didn't he

on there was, obv

ood enough for me. And there's something about that fellow which wo

ver Mrs. Holt," said Honora, "we

restrained as to cause the couple ahead to t

san?" asked

ave gone in the hou

o be having a v

Spence, no doubt for the benefit of the Vicomte.

mte," she replied promptly. "I

ing in his steps, "you don

ng enough to take him s

ut women," he declared,

most any old thing i

If you were a man, y

ve you change f

aimed Honora, "have a

pable. We do not k

r. Spence, delightedly,

omt

him an injustic

icking up queer people like that. She's noted for it

he replied, amusedly,

cli

oarding

enjoyed h

n to say you a

you think I w

san," he said

ere child, I

gan, and paused and li

ighted mis

he world, and that I lived in New York, and that it was strange you didn't know me

come from, if I

Holt brought me. And I have never been out of St. Louis since, except to go to Sutcliffe

brought you t

, not without a

ere?" she demanded. "Are you a

fference with Mr. Howard Pence, and that he was not a little mortified at his mistake. What he had supposed her to be must remain a matter of conjecture. He was, however, by no means aware how thoroughly this unknown and inexperienced young woman had read his thoughts in h

en he talked about Wall Street, with casual references to the powers that be. It was evident th

in advance of Mrs. Ho

ent to h

Mrs. Robert, if she had any pin-money, to buy New York Central; and he predicted an era of prosperity which would be unexampled in the annals of the country. Among other powers, he quoted the father of Honora's schoolmate, Mr. James Wing, as authority for

t announced suddenly, "nothing can c

ira!" protes

tly; "I'm old-fashioned, I suppose. But

d if these be such a thing as an implied wink, Honora received one as he proceeded to expla

llantly and unexpectedly came to his hostess' rescue, though she treated him as a doubtful ally. This was because he declared with engaging frankness that in France the young men of his monde had a jeunesse: he, who spoke to them, had gambled; everybody gambled in France, where it was regarded as an innocent amusement. He had friends on the Bo

ith the evidences of wealth which confronted him on every side in this marvellous country. An

sure when I first beheld you that you spo

, modestly, "and I had the honour to be born in yo

she was dimly and automatically aware of the disturbance about her, as though she were creating a magnetic storm that interfered with all other communication. Mr. Holt's nightly bezique, which he played with Susan, did not seem to be going as well as usual, and elsewhere conversation was a palpabl

unded and delighted the Vicomte de Toqueville. And he was curious to know whether, amongst American young ladies, Miss Leffingwell was the exception or the rule. Those eyes of his, which had paid to

t rattled her newspaper a little louder than usua

room, and added to Honora: "I had no idea you spoke French so well,

ho, springing to his

eaching me much of the c

s. Holt, "have you been

and shrugged his sho

re qualified to be her t

ladies is truly

onora, wickedly, "that he must see your Institution as

scarcely perceptible pause, "I awa

ou to-morrow,"

to turn. Mr. Spence, with his handkerchief to his mouth, had his

ght she opened her door in response to a

I must say a word to you. I suppose you

Mrs.

and young women are quite different and, I regret to say, less innocent than ours. I have no reason to believe that the Vicomte has come to this country to-to mend his fortunes. I know nothing about his property. But my sense of responsibility towards you has led me to tell him that you have

h him," protested Honora, as soon as she could get her b

to believe that that is the most dangerous sort. I am sure, Hon

onora again, "I shouldn'

stion to take him to the Institution was not a bad one. I meant to do

gone, Honora stood for

urned out