The Two Vanrevels

f the first week of Mr. Carewe's absence, and told it in spite of Mrs. Tanberry's utmost effort to preserve, at all times, a conjunction between herself and Miss Be

as a delight to be near her. For that matter, it is said that no one ever had enough of the mere looking at her. Also, her talk was enlivening even to the lively, being spiced with surprising turns and amiably seasoned with the art of badinage. To use the phrase of the time, she possessed the accomplishments, an antiquated charm now on the point

across the long strands, "Like white blossoms borne on slanting lines of rain;" and the great gold harp rising to catch a javelin of sunshine that pierced the vines at the window where the honeysuckles swung their skirts to the refrain-it was a picture to return many a long year afterward, and thrill the reveries of old men who were then young. And, following the light cascading ripples of the harp, when her lo

which very little had been eaten) after a day's picnic by the river. Miss Carewe had been of their company, and Tappingham and Chenoweth found each his opportunity in the afternoon. The party was small, and no one had been able to effect a total unconsciousness of the maneuv

as to be a member. But it was happiness enough for Tom, that night, to lie hidden in the shrubbery, looking up at the stars between the lea

mer to music. Serenade, dance, and song for them, the light-hearts, young and old making gay together! It was all laughter, either in sunshine

the privilege of Mr. Thomas Vanrevel to assist Miss Carewe and her chaperon from their carriage, as they drove up to a dance at the Bareauds'. Th

s Betty's little lace-gauntleted glove was placed in his hand, and her white slipper shimmered out from

their hair, and Miss Betty's that night was of marguerites. "Read your fortune in them all," whispered Tom's he

, it's you, is it!" was Mrs. Tanberry's courteous observation as she canted the vehicle in her descent. She looked sharply at Miss Betty,

g figures circled, came the waltz: "I dreamt that I dwe-helt in ma-har-ble halls." Tom's

ce the two fi

d; but just as they reached the door she flashed over him a look that scorched him from head to foot, and sent his spirits down t

, and followed Mrs. Tanb

hing the girl's shoulder with her jeweled hand, "I told you I was a very foolish woman, and I am, but not so foolish as to offer adv

here, regarding the career of Crailey Gray, and she thought how intensely she would have hated any person in the world except Mrs. Tanber

y, I think," ventured

urned to her an

please let us never

e gravest acquiescence. She saw that her companion's

m managed it? Had her father never told her? Who had dared to introduce them? Fanchon was the only one who knew, and as she whi

s! She smiled upon him instantly and looke

sted, while it seemed to her that she read clear into the soul of him, and to behold it, through some befooling magic, as strong, tender, wise, and true, as his outward appearance would have made an innocent stranger believe him; for he looked all these things; she admitted that much; and he had an air of distinction and r

; his fingers clasped that ineffable lilac and white brocade waist. Sometimes her hair came within an inch of his cheek, and then he rose outright from the hilltops and floated in a golden mist. The glamour of which the Incroyable had planned to tell her some day, surrounded Tom, and it seemed to him that the whole world was covered with

t, his head in the air, and Miss Betty on his arm. Apparently, he would have

he music and glory and lire that was in him; therefore he was shocked to

s the gate

u mean you wish to persuade me th

it," he protest

N

t thinki

ere 'lost in t

d, before he cou

ke it. "How very frank of you! May I ask: Are you convinced

hung his head. Then she thre

o came to sing

sigh came tremulously from the darkness

s. Tanberry thought it was someone

ietly. "It was I. It was my only

er hand. "It was a song made for another girl, I believe?" she asked lightly, and wit

t to do with it? The music was made for you-

to the serenade before you spoke of it; but I am not one to cast down my eyes and let it pass. No, nor one too sweet to face the truth, either!" she cried

d moved her, for he could see that her attack was prompted by her inexplicable impression

y misunderstood; you thought it meant s

to make love to another girl, and now his cowardice in trying to disclaim what he had done lent him the insolence to say to this other: "My child, you are betrayed by your youth and conceit; you exaggerate my meaning. I had no intention to distinguish you by coquetting with you!" This was her interpretation of him; and her

with anger. "I suppose your bad heart i

m him swiftly,

er to seek her, sprang forward with eager greetings, so that when the stricken Tom, dazed and confounded by his evil luck, followed her at about five paces, he found himself confronted by an impenetrable abbatis formed by the spiked

ing his neighbor, begged the dance of Miss Betty; but Tom was himself again, and la

has honored me by the p

nd none of them was too vain

y, and, directly facing him, said in composed and even v

e General's arm, turning

itudes; others, observing these, turned inquiringly, so that sudden silence fell, broken only by the voice of Mi

then everyone began to talk hastily about not

sion, walked slowly through the rooms, speaking to people, here and there, as though nothing had happened, but when the music sounded again, he went to the dressing-room, found his hat and cloak, and left the house. For a while he stood on the opposi

, child," she said, "and never speak to you of him again as long as I live, e

ss Betty, wearily. She had danced lo

pressibly. "All the vagabonds do, Princess!"

, I don

ssed the girl's hand affectionately. "But you'll let me say something just once, and forgive me because we're the same foolish age, you know. It's only this: The next young man

aid Miss Betty hot

his time to do just what you did. I'd have done it myself,

y!" said Miss

not sorry!" He had needed his lesson; but she had to bear the recollection of how white his face went when he received it. Her affront had put about him a strange loneliness: the one figure with the stilled crowd staring; it had ma

ng in the world? The book dropped from her lap, and she bowed her head u

amation, half self-pitying, half impatien

our, and just before she returned t

lk with the Incroyable, when he had bid her look to the stars, she raised

" she whispered

ntom nor dream-lover, that she spoke; neither to him she had affronted, nor to

oughtfully to the house, w