A Woman-Hater

sly interrupted before it had lasted two hours and a half,

roaring fire in her mistress's room, and put out garments to air. He a

omestics air their employers' things, but not their own, you may be sure. There was a chemise carefully folded into the smallest possible comp

ed as follows, "Idiots! at eve

to the genial heat; and so close that, had a spark flown, they would have been warmed with a vengeance, and the superiority of the male intellect demonstrated. This done, he retired, with a guilty air; for he did not want to

truants that are giving

too. But Fanny, doubting her sincerity, was peremptory, and said they had only to stroll slowly on, and then turn;

d girl!" cr

intly; and the first effect of Fanny's retreat was to

ime. He was so respectful, as well as tender, that, by degre

gs they said to each other began to be mere vehicles for those soft tones

ct nor serious views on Zoe. But he had been playing

e was lovelier than ever. Those lowered lashes, that mantling cheek, those soft, tender m

efore. He never even asked himself whether permanent happiness was likel

ed he could recall his

sigh?" said

es, I do. Becaus

You ought to be; and I a

all be happier in a few minutes, or else

nd her bosom began to heave. His words led her t

cue at present. He lowered his eyes, to give her time, and said, sadly, "I cannot help seeing that, somehow, there is suspicion in the air about me. Miss Maitland pu

ause I know you must have done many good things and clever things; but you have too little

are narrow-minded," said Severne, enthusiastically;

ith gratified pride a

I must stipulate that you will receive it in sacre

y brother, who

ven to

tive delicacy and modest

ng I am forbidden to tell my brother. You might as well say I must not tell my mother; for dear Harringt

ld have treated this delicacy as ridiculous pru

d you shall see at once whether it ought to be repeated, or to remain a sacr

ow, and half conscious that, somehow, he was tying her to secrecy with silk instead of

o avoid eternal comments by the author, I must once more call in the artful aid of the pri

oftener than I liked; but I never suspected the rate he was going at. I was anxious, too, about him; but I said to myself he was just sowing his wild oats, like other fellows. Well, it went on, until-to his misfortune and mine-he got entangled in some disgraceful transactions; the general features are known to all the world. I dare say you have heard of one or two young noblemen who committed forgeries on their relations and friends some years ago. One of them, the son of an earl, took his sister's whole fortune out of her bank, with a sing

ried Zoe, clasping

ate sub rosa. The total amount would have swamped my family acres. I got them down to sixty per cent, and that only crippled my estate forever. As for my brother, he fell on his knees to me. But I could not forgive him. He left the country with a hund

sympathetic sighs. Her imagination, more powerful and precise than the inventor's, pictured the horror of the high-minded brother, his agony, his shame, his respect for law and honesty, his

ld art, the warm-hearted gi

ried; "poor Mr. Severne!" And

eart like that-then with compunction, and then with a momentary horror at himself, and t

sterical effusion, undignified by a single grain of active contrition, or even penitent resolve, told in his favor. They mingled their tears; and hearts cannot hold aloof when tears come together. Yes, they

me. Oh, no, you were right, and I will never tell anybody. People are narrow-minded. They shall never cast your broth

w superior you are to all the world:

ing to rain! We must get h

ure, Apollo ran after Daphne, with his little proposals; but, I take it, he ran mute-till he found he couldn't catch her. Indeed, it was as much as Severne could do to keep up

cattle-shed at some distance. Here she and Severne were imprisoned. Luckily for them "the kye had not come hame," and the shed was empty

hat, as they purred together, and murmured soft nothings, more than once sh

ling. Excused it on the score of his loss by his brother; said he hoped soon to hear good news from Canada; didn't despair; was happy now, in spite of all; had been happy ever since he had met her. What d

er a Tartar about punctuality at dinner. She felt she was already in danger of censure for her long te'te-'a-te'te with Seve

now, rain or no rain, and she wal

and began to cling to her. But the spirited girl only laughed at his condolences, as she hurried on. "Why, it is only warm water," said

ll ruin yo

he hills. When I get home I'll gi

re they reached the inn, Zoe's dress had

Queen Beauty. Disheveled hair adorns it: close bound hair adorns it. Simplicity adorns it. Diamonds adorn it. Everything seems to adorn it, because, the truth is, it adorns everything. And so Zoe, drenched with rain, and her dress

incessa p

o much tenderness, she felt she had a right to order him now: "I must beg of you," said she, "to go straight

," said he,

kissed her hand to him a

ted, and said, aloud, "Oh, how nice of them!" and, all dripping a

dervalue worthy love. The infinite heart of a Zoe Vizard can love but

he time her real anxiety was lest I should be wet through." Thereupon she settled in her mind to begin loving Aunt Maitland from that hour. She did not ring for her maid till she was nearly dressed, and, when

ver wear it again, to be

reat care of it," and burst out laughing like a peal of silver bel

nd wet through in-no, thank you! Such g

m, fidgeting more and more, when in came Zoe, dressed high in black

he shoulders and gave her a great kiss. "You young m

ould only have been

with an air of hearty con

ed if she had

cow-shed, and then drenched. But I'll have a n

on,

eft hand, and they walked up and down the room, Zoe beaming with h

x. He sat down at a little table, and read a little journal unobtrusivel

hour, and summoned them rather roughly, as stated above. His back was to Zoe, and she rubbed her hands gayly

r glum; and Aunt Maitland cast a vicious look at Severne and Zoe: they had made a forced march, and ou

and vague, and it was two hours before anything came within

t, Fanny, being under the influence of Miss Maitland's revelations, ventured to su

Not-more-deceitful! Do y

getting rather frightened.

I respectfully inquire whether more men

pectfully as you like;

with men. The wonder is, how they can waste so much truth and constancy and beauty upon the foul sex. To my mind, there is only one

," suggested

is good, and a good woman is good. Still, I do think that women have greater hearts to love, and men, perhaps, greater hearts for friendship:" then, blushing roseate, "even in the short time we have been here we hav

Ha, ha, ha! You silly girl, he has got no sick friend.

r two. It killed, as follows: the tranquillity-th

t at Vizard a venomous look never seen on his face before

ue, and turned pale at his evident discomfiture. Her lover

man, who was himself polite to everybody. She would have d

k as if you had robbed a church. Hang it all! a fellow has got a right to gamble,

the terrible old maid. "Where

fiction here; so he said, sullenly, "I got th

ctions, Ned," said Vizard. "Miss Maitlan

" said she; "and

rose from his chair, bowed ironically, with th

to my veranda and, in that [he struck a li

te on the charms

struck him, and, for a single moment, he looked downright terrible and wonderfully unlike the easy-going Harrington Vizard. B

shot. Fanny was very uncomfortable and fixed her eyes on the table. Zoe, deeply shocked at Severne'

," said Miss Mai

restless eyes, meditating how he should get o

eyes full upon his face, and said, rather im

p blankly in her fac

n (all this time Fanny's eyes were fixed on the young man e

a public

u know

rd her sing

do you know h

honor. "But," said he, rather hurriedly, "somebody or other

in-S

ills out with her name. She made

sly. "Why, aunt, no wonder Harrington

at is quite a d

; he has only seen her once,

r, over head and ears. He is wonderfully inflamma

my brother in lov

w his chance, and did as good a bit of acting a

the secret he had confessed to her.) "Miss Maitland has done your brother and me the honor to listen to our secrets. She shall repeat them, if she thinks it delicate; but I shall not, without Vizard's consent; and, more than that, t

s hands defiantly into his pockets and stalked

ovements of his body, all so piquant, charming, and unwomanly! As he vanished from her admiring eyes, she turned, with flaming cheeks, on Miss Mait

tive I have made the room. I have driven away the gods of your idolatry-they are only idols of clay; but that you can't believe. I will banish nobody else

ook her bed-can

her bedroom door, she called to her: "Aunt! one wo

en please let me forget everything else you have said or done to-day."

," said Zoe, with all the hardness of youth; thoug

. "Then, my dear, you shall have my prayers this night; and i

on began to cry. Fanny ran to her and nestled close to her, and the t

hate, the other I despise. No, never again, until I have said my prayers, and am just going to sleep, will I c

e interrupted by Mr. Severne slipping away fr

to hear if he has anything to say." Thereupon Fanny obeyed that significant pinch, and said, "Mr. Severne, my cousin is not a woman of the world; she is a country girl, with old-fash

id," said he, a

Sev

hotel in a different direction from the Kursaal. I was there from s

eply engaged to shoot fun flying. "Fanny" cried she, eagerly, "I heard h

said Fanny

I remember 'The Gol

t look in for a few minutes. In fact, I don't think I was there half an hour. But Miss Maitland is quite right in one thing. I lost more than two h

rd La Kl

te, and you may well be

ot at that

ck friend? I suppose I have a right to go to the Kursaal if I choose. At any rat

f course you have. It becomes a man to say je veux; and it becomes a woman to

ted anything. That, you must know, was Rosa's way of saying, "It is very late. I'm tired; so the sooner you go to bed, the b

I do. I want to know who had my fire

, to be sure

my bro

astways, I found the things properly muddl

leaving Zoe's

iously in at the window, and said,

er place." She ran to meet him. "Who ordered a fire in

What o

hen a lady is out in the rain, don't prepare a lecture for her, like Aunt Maitland, but

re-p

There, and there, and there, an

ears, "you are exciting yourself about nothing, and that will end in one of you

. Goodby, tyrant dear. Oh,

to Severne, and soon the

he heart to cloud that beaming face again so soon; she temporized: Zoe pressed her with questions too; but she slurred things, Zoe asked h

are her ob

e obscure, and his relatives unknown, ha! ha! ha!" Fanny laug

I see you in danger. It was monstrous her making an escla

.' I am happy-oh, so happy! You love me. Harrington loves me. He

between Zoe and Fanny

opened her door that looked upon the corridor and bec

came in wet, to the skin, and in hig

gro

led dress, she ordered it to be

feeler about the gambling-tables. Then Fanny said it must be nice to gamble, because it was so naughty. "In a long expe

the use of seminaries. Now let us hear Severne; he kno

mory, judgment, sangfroid, and other good qualities of the mind. Above all, it is on the square. Now, buying and selling shares without delivery, bulling, and bearing, and rigging, and Stock Exchange speculations in general, are just as much

Proceed, young man. Develop your code of morals for the amu

ion," said Severne. "

now: I reserve it till we are ther

o go," cried Fanny

s Maitland. It is no

yes were turned piteous

o you think there would be any great

have seen a German prince, a Russian prince, and two English countesses, the very e'lite of London society, seated at the same table in the

ested Vizard-"the

e. "But, aunt, must we look on, or

a little, in good company-if you play with you

then," said Fanny; "for I

ies & Co. As it is, I am a Croesus, and I shall stand one hundred pounds, which

verne was called on to explain the game, and show the young ladies how

, two packs of cards sent fo

ey on black or red, which is the main event, and is settled thus: The dealer deals the cards in two rows. He deals the f

for noir, and the c

bs-ten of spades-nine of dia

dealt

two of spades-king of spades-ni

it. The actual color of the first card the player turns up on the black line must be black or red. Whichever happens to be it i

l for

actual color turned up on the black l

ried Zoe. "It's m

you say on th

d on th

ooks ugly for your two events, black coming so near as thirty-two. Now for red. Four of hearts, knave of spades, seven of di

nice game!

he main event and the color, staking fabulous su

the stakes belonged to him. That was the

e man-eating company, and their prince, and built the Kur

double on it. The chances are now five to one you gain: but if you lose, you double on the same, and, when you have got to sixteen napoleons, the color must change; uniformity has reached its physical limit. That is called the maturity of the chances. Begin as unluckily as possible with five francs, and lose. If you have to double eight times before you win, it only comes to twelve hundred and eighty francs. Given, therefore, a man to whom fifty napoleons are no more than five francs to us, he can never lose if he doubles, like a Trojan, till the chances

nk you have invente

was communicated to me, in the K

entleman,

gton," crie

iated at its valu

ld gentleman, with a noble head, a silvery beard,

is reverence to be i

ack, then on the red, till I was cl

premature ad

rnations of the colors, which alternation chance persistently avoid

it? Tell the truth now; he sat down and lost the

ays. He has heart-disease, and his phys

nat

h! Fr

sans le vouloir,'' and you have stumbled on him. What a life for an aged man! Fortunatus ille sen

arring

t allowed in sob

ease. Just do me a favor. Here are five sovereigns;

s age and appearance-a man of honor too, and high sentiments. W

h Severne. "What! offer a vieux

t rouge-et-noir. The old soldier will stiffen into double dignity at first, then give him a low wink, and end by sitting down and gambling. He will be cautious at starting, as one who opens trenches for the siege of Mammon; but soon the veteran wi

e, to take the money; and none of the persons present doubted that he would execute the commission with a grace and delicacy all his own. Nevertheless, to run forwar

Homburg. You are all going to gratify your mani

aid Zoe; "an

last night, and I fled discomfited to my balcony, and, in

a; it is good taste

want to know how she lo

is insa

ot. I will call on her this mor

hat juvenile audacity! Zoe

her, that lady and I, and only waiting an opportunity to rush into each other's arms. It began with her

e Agamemnon, a head taller

m a thorough English girl at heart

esent frame. You are all the

in excellent French, I hope, 'How, mademoiselle! you have deigned to remember me, and to honor me with a visit.' Then I shall say, in school-French, 'Yes, madame; excuse the intrusion, but I was so charmed with your performance. We leave Homburg to-morrow, and as, unfortunately for myself, I cannot have the pleasure of seeing you again upon the stage-' then I shall stop, for her to interrupt me. Then she wil

nia, but to cure it. I have seen her on the stage, looking like the incarnation of a poet's dream. I am extasie'' with her. Now let me

off the stage as on it. My only fear is she will talk that dreadful guttural German, with its

he gift of the gab-in German, and other languages. He is sure to

party. I have my reasons. Mr. Severne," said she, turning on him

ank as a doll's, and he sai

ay. But Zoe and her party would go on ahead by the one-o'clock train; and so sh

lives were ahead, their tongues went a rare pace. But the only thing worth presenting

go now, or I shall

dear," said

only

erne wil

l: I made a

? but still he

y. She turned round upon her with flashing eye, and said, "No mysteries, please, dear. Why

that are nothing apart: one observes faces; I do, at least. You don't seem, to me, to be so quick at that as most girls. B

to the world's end with her; so she drew herself up in her grand way, and folded her arms and said, a littl

ty cousin like a little game-cock. "I know this," said she, with heightened cheek, and flashing eyes and

ale, but her eyes flashe

deep voice, with a little gasp, b