Rose of the World

fter his ride, he had had tea, and had started his second cheroot. It was growing delightfully cool. He had the conviction of leaving a well-spent day

smile that, upon first acquaintance, was found irresistibly fascinating; a genial easy manner—a way with him, in fact, that

repressible burst of frankness, "is the sort of

ithout ever departing from a form of speech and manner that, with his own family was almost always caressing, with the rest of the world affable, no human being had ever been able to move him from the prosecution of his own purpose. S

was whether her beautiful new aunt did not really hate Sir Arthur; and, "if she didn't," as the child phrased it, "how she could?" But not even Baby's shrewd young eyes c

e, her hands busied with some delicate

of condescending and complacent affection as that wi

, "I have finally reject

dee

e second thought dropped her long lids and resumed her embroidery, while

te right! Only last night I heard General Staveley tell Aunt Rosamon

self-satisfaction waxed

other man in India that would have dared to take the responsibility. Aha, Rosamond, firmness! I

" ejacul

s eyelashes fli

iving her niece a ta

owling to herself

If Runkle does not s

agreeable émoustillage in moments of relaxation such as these, as well as an opportunity for the display of his own indulgent wit and wisdom. He had a pride in her smart tongue as well as in her pretty looks; and Aspasia's most earnest attempts produced no more effect upon her distinguished relative than would the gambols of a kitten. Thus he now beamed upon her. In his early years of Londo

the garden. I know you and Aspasia rather liked that little jungle, but it was really a nasty bit. Now I propose to have the place concreted and a

of wrath, to compress her lips in silence, while Lady Gerardine drew a strand of silk throug

s," observed Miss Cuningham presently, with withering

r ignored

great importance. I have found, I think, the exact person I have wanted so long: the native secretary, you know. All th

inces confided to his charge, beginning from the earliest possible date and to be carried down to the triumphant conclusion of his own rule—this great work

monuments!" had cried Aspasia one da

ded, not one line of the folios which already filled his nest of drawers, some of which had been actually passed for press, had been either conceived or penned by the official author. And the guileless ph

aw water from the source that springs in the soil of the land itself." He looked sidewa

articular native spring?" inq

ble individual. The son of a Subadar—who thought it fine to let his son have an English education. Thought it no doubt a form of loyalty that would pay. However it may have been, the fellow's as poor as a rat in spite of his learning—proud as Lucifer, of course. drop of princely bl

ate writing, which presented certainly no difficulty to the decipherer. Baby, whose young interest was more

med Saif-u-din. Will your Magnificence so condescend to my nothingness as t

n't you better pass it on to Macdonald? You must let

led with his b

ond letter fr

Lady Aspasia is quite ready to give us ten da

horrid woman that went and had a name like

itrant niece, "not only of your connection with a noble house, but also to bear a name which is perhaps unique. Had we had a daughter, Rosamond, my love, I could not have allowed her to be christened otherwise. Dear me," he went on, now throwing his remarks int

is face; and Sir Arthur, satisfied that she had undoubtedly felt a little hurt by his r

y called on you. Bethune his name is—Major Bethune, of the Guides. I asked him to dine to-night. I knew you would like me to show him some attention. You must know all about him, my love; he went through

Gerardine's fingers did not tremble; it hovered for a hardly perceptible moment, then resumed its languid course.

," he insisted. "And Bethune was flattered, of course, immensely flat

petal, cut her silk, folded her wo

gently; "you are alw

circled in her pale face that the affe

unge to approach her. "I trust you have not got a chill; I think w

edge, beyond the flaming masses of poinsettia, the heavy-headed babul, and the starred wide-flung

my banyan trees," she said, a

f such a thing. And she was not looking well. He took her face by the chin and turned it to the sunset light. Even in that warm glow it sh

your vests again!" He slipped two fingers under the lace of her diaphanous blouse to satisfy himself. "I cannot afford to have yo

ment, looking at the sky. Baby, a thousand shades of exasperation and

Rosamond!" And flinging her arms round the still figure: "Oh, darling," she whisper

f, bringing her eyes back from the dist

y mockery, "when you have lived as long as I

f, summoning a couple of supple Hindoos to repair the damage; and, feeling that the balance of things w

art—a soft, pleasant little song: that it was good not to have lived long yet, and to have everything still before one; and that she was glad that the man wit