S。T。"
　　"Poorfellow，"saidNed；"myheartbleedsforhim。"
　　Zoewasaffectedbythis，andturnedliquidandlovingeyeson"dearNed。"ButFannystoodherground。"Goto'S。T。'to-morrowmorning，butdon'tdesert'Z。V。'and'F。D。'to-night。"Zoesmiled。
　　"ButIhavetelegraphed!"objectedNed。
　　"Thentelegraphagain——_not，"_saidFannyfirmly。
　　Now，thiswasunexpected。Severnehadsethisheartupon_rougeetnoir，_
　　butstillhewasafraidofoffendingZoe；and，besides，hesawUxmoor，withhisnoblebeardandbrowneyes，castingrapturousglancesather。
　　"LetMissVizarddecide，"saidhe。"Don'tletmebesounhappyastooffendhertwiceinoneday。"
　　Zoe'sprideandgoodnessdictatedheranswer，inspiteofherwishes。Shesaid，inalowvoice，"Gotoyoursickfriend。"
　　"There，"saidSeverne。
　　"Ihear，"saidFanny。"Shemeans'go；'butyoushallrepentit。"
　　"ImeanwhatIsay，"saidZoe，withrealdignity。"Itismyhabit。"Andthenextmomentshequietlylefttheroom。
　　Shesatdowninherbedroom，mortifiedandalarmed。What!Haditcometothis，thatshefeltherheartturncoldjustbecausethatyoungmansaidhecouldnotaccompanyher——onasingleevening!Thenfirstshediscoveredthatitwasforhimshehaddressed，andhad，foronce，beautifiedherbeauty——for_him；_thatwithFannyshehaddweltuponthedelightsofthemusic，buthadsecretlythoughtofappearingpubliclyon_his_arm，anddazzlingpeoplebytheirunitedandcontrastedbeauty。
　　Sherose，allofasudden，andlookedkeenlyatherselfintheglass，toseeifshehadnotsomehowoverratedherattractions。Buttheglasswasreassuring。Ittoldhernotonemaninamillioncouldgotoasickfriendthatnight，whenhemightpasstheeveningbyherside，andvisithisfriendearlyinthemorning。Bestlovedisbestserved。Tearsofmortifiedvanitywereinhereyes；butshesmiledthroughthemattheglass；thendriedthemcarefully，andwentbacktothedining-roomradiant，toallappearance。
　　Dinnerwasjustserved，andherbrother，todohonortothenew-comer，wavedhissistertoaseatbyLordUxmoor。Helookedcharmedatthearrangement，andshowedagreatdesiretopleaseher，butatfirstwasunabletofindgoodtopics。Afterseveraltimidoverturesonhispart，sheassistedhim，outofgood-nature，Sheknewbyreportthathewasaverybenevolentyoungman，bentonimprovingthehome，habits，wages，andcomfortsoftheagriculturalpoor。Sheledhimtothis，andhiseyessparkledwithpleasure，andhishomelybutmanlyfacelighted，andwaselevatedbythesympathysheexpressedintheseworthyobjects。Hecouldnothelpthinking:"WhataLadyUxmoorthiswouldmake!SheandIandherbrothermightleaventhecounty。"
　　AndallthistimeshewouldnotevenbestowaglanceonSeverne。Shewasnotanangel。Shehadsaid，"Gotoyoursickfriend；"butshehadnotsaid，"Iwillsmartaloneifyou_do。"_
　　SevernesatbyFanny，andseemeddejected，but，asusual，politeandcharming。Shewassmilinglycruel；regaledhimwithLordUxmoor'swealthandvirtues，andsaidhewasanexcellentmatch，andallshe-Barfordshirepullingcapsforhim。Severneonlysighed；heofferednoresistance；andatlastshecouldnotgoonnaggingahandsomefellow，whoonlysighed，soshesaid，"Well，_there；_Iadviseyoutojoinusbeforetheoperaisover，thatisall。"
　　"Iwill，Iwill!"saidhe，eagerly。"Oh，thankyou。"
　　Dinnerwasdispatchedratherrapidly，becauseoftheopera。
　　Whentheladiesgottheircloaksandlacescarfs，toputovertheirheadscominghome，thepartyprovedtobeonlythree，andtheticketsfive；forMissMaitlandpleadedheadache。
　　Onthis，LordUxmoorsaid，rathertimidly，heshouldliketogo。
　　"Why，yousaidyouhatedmusic，"saidVizard。
　　LordUxmoorcolored。"Irecant，"saidhe，bluntly；andeverybodysawwhathadoperatedhisconversion。Thatisapun。
　　Itishalfanhour，byrail，fromFrankforttoHomburg，andthepartycouldnotbeseatedtogether。VizardbestowedZoeandLordUxmoorinonecarriage，FannyandSeverneinanother，andhimselfandacigarinthethird。SevernesatgazingpiteouslyonFannyDover，butneversaidaword。Shesatandeyedhimsatiricallyforagoodwhile，andthenshesaid，cheerfully，"Well，Mr。Severne，howdoyouliketheturnthingsaretaking?"
　　"MissDover，Iamveryunhappy。"
　　"Servesyouright。"
　　"Oh，praydon'tsaythat。ItisonyouIdepend。"
　　"Onme，sir!WhathaveItodowithyourflirtations?"
　　"No；butyouaresoclever，andsogood。Ifforonceyouwilltakeapoorfellow'spartwithMissVizard，behindmyback；oh，pleasedo——praydo，"
　　and，intheardorofentreaty，hecaughtFanny'swhitehandandkisseditwithwarmbutrespectfuldevotion。Indeed，hehelditandkisseditagainandagain，tillFanny，thoughshemindeditnomorethanmarble，wasgoingtoaskhimsatiricallywhetherhehadnotalmostdonewithit，whenatlasthecontrivedtosqueezeoutoneofhislittlehystericaltears，anddropitonherhand。
　　Now，thegirlwasnotbutter，likesomeofhersex；farfromit:butneitherwasshewood——indeed，shewasnotoldenoughforthat——sothiscrocodiletearwonherforthetimebeing。"There——there，"saidshe；
　　"don'tbeababy。I'llbeonyoursidetonight；only，ifyoucareforher，comeandlookafterheryourself。Beautifulwomenwithmoneywon'tstandneglect，Mr。Severne；andwhyshouldthey?Theyarenotlikepoorme；theyhavegotthegameintheirhands。"Thetrainstopped。Vizard'spartydrovetotheopera，andSeverneorderedacabtoTheGoldenStar，meaningtostopitandgetout；but，lookingathiswatch，hefounditwantedhalfanhourtogamblingtime，sohesettledtohaveacupofcoffeefirst，andacigar。WiththisviewheletthemandrivehimtoTheGoldenStar。
　　CHAPTERIII。
　　INAKLOSKINGworkednightanddayuponSiebel，inGounod's"Faust，"anduponthesongsthathadbeenaddedtogiveweighttothepart。
　　Shecameearlytothetheateratnight，andsat，halfdressed，fatigued，andnervous，inherdressing-room。
　　Crash!——thefirst_coupd'archet_announcedtheoverture，androusedherenergy，asifIthuriel'sspearhadprickedher。Shecamedowndressed，tolistenatoneoftheupperentrances，tofillherselfwiththemusicaltheme，beforetakingherpartinit，andalsotogaugetheaudienceandthesingers。
　　ThemanFaustwasaGerman；butthemusicalpartFaustseemsbettersuitedtoanItalianoraFrenchman。Indeed，somesaythat，asarule，theGermangeniusexcelsincreationandtheItalianinrepresentationorinterpretation。Formypart，Iamunabletojudgenationsinthelump，assomefinefellowsdo，becausenationsarecomposedofverydifferentindividuals，andIknowonlyonetothemillion；butIdotakeonmetosaythattheindividualHerrwhoexecutedDoctorFaustusatHomburgthatnighthadeverythingtolearn，exceptwhathehadtounlearn。Hispersonwasobese；hisdeliveryofthewordswasmouthing，chewing，andgurgling；
　　andheutteredthenotesintune，butwithoutpoint，pathos，orpassion；
　　asteadylay-clerkfromYorkorDurhamCathedralwouldhavedonealittlebetter，becausehewouldhavebeennocolderatheart，andmoreexactintime，andwouldhavesungclean；whereasthisgentlemansethiswindpipetrembling，allthroughthebusiness，asifpalsywerepassion。Bywhatsystemofleveragesuchamancametobehoistedontosuchapinnacleofsongas"Faust"puzzledourEnglishfriendsinfrontasmuchasitdidtheAnglo-Danishartistatthewing；forEnglishgirlsknowwhatiswhatinopera。
　　TheMargueritehadavoiceofsufficientcompass，andrathersweet，thoughthin。Thepartdemandsabetter_actress_thanPatti，andthisFrauleinwasnothalfasgood:sheputonthepainfulgrinofaprize-fighterwhohasreceivedastaggerer，andgrinnedallthroughthepart，thoughthereislittleinittogrinat。
　　ShealsosufferedbyhavingtoplaytoaFaustmilkedofhispoetry，andself-smittenwitha_tremolo_which，asIsaidbefore，isthevoiceofpalsy，andisnot，noreverwas，noreverwillbe，thevoiceofpassion。
　　Blessyourheart，passionisamanlything，awomanlything，agrandthing，notafeeble，quavering，palsied，anile，senilething。Learnthat，yetrembling，quaveringidiotsofsong!
　　"Theyletmedown，"whisperedInaKloskingtoherfaithfulAshmead。"I
　　feelalloutoftune。Ishallneverbeable。Andtheaudiencesocold。Itwillbelikesinginginasepulcher。"
　　"Whatwouldyouthinkofthem，iftheyapplauded?"saidAshmead。
　　"Ishouldsaytheyweregood，charitablesouls，andtheveryaudienceI
　　shallwantinfiveminutes。"
　　"No，no，"saidAshmead，"allyouwantisadiscriminatingaudience；andthisisone。RemembertheyhaveallseenPattiinMarguerite。Isitlikelytheywouldapplaudthistinstick?"
　　Inaturnedtheconversationwithfemininequickness。"Mr。Ashmead，haveyoukeptyourpromise；mynameisnotintheprogramme?"
　　"Itisnot；andagreatmistaketoo。"
　　"Ihavenotbeenannouncedbynameinanyway?"
　　"No。But，ofcourse，Ihavenursedyouabit。"
　　"Nursedme?Whatisthat?Oh，whathaveyoubeendoing?No_charlatanerie，_Ihope。"
　　"Nothingofthekind，"saidAshmead，stoutly；"onlytheregularbusiness。"
　　"Andpraywhatistheregularbusiness?"inquiredIna，distrustfully。
　　"Why，ofcourse，IsentonthemanagertosaythatMademoiselleSchwaubhadbeentakenseriouslyill；thatwehadbeenfearingwemustbreakfaithwiththepublicforthefirsttime；butthatacantatrice，whohadleftthestage，appreciatingourdifficulty，had，withrarekindness，cometoouraidforthisonenight:wefeltsureaHumbugaudience——whatamIsaying?——aHomburgaudiencewouldappreciatethis，andmakedueallowanceforaperformanceundertakeninsuchaspirit，andwithimperfectrehearsals，etc——inshort，theusualpatter；andtheusualeffect，greatapplause。Indeed，theonlyapplausethatIhaveheardinthistheaterto-night。AshmeadaheadofGounod，sofar。"
　　InaKloskingputbothhandsbeforeherface，andutteredalittlemoan。
　　Shehadreallyasoulabovetheseartifices。"So，then，"saidshe，"iftheydoreceiveme，itwillbeoutofcharity。"
　　"No，no；butonyourfirstnightyoumusthavetwostringstoyourbow。"
　　"ButIhaveonlyone。Thesecajolingspeechesareawasteofbreath。A
　　singercansing，orshecan_not_sing，andtheyfindoutwhichitisassoonassheopenshermouth。"
　　"Well，then，youopenyourmouth——thatisjustwhathalfthesingerscan'tdo——andtheywillsoonfindoutyoucansing。"
　　"Ihopetheymay。Idonotknow。Iamdiscouraged。I'mterrified。Ithinkitisstage-fright，"andshebegantotremblevisibly，forthetimedrewnear。
　　Ashmeadranoffandbroughthersomebrandy-and-water。Sheputupherhandagainstitwithroyalscorn。"No，sir!Ifthetheater，andthelights，andthepeople，themindofGoethe，andthemusicofGounod，can'texcitemewithout_that，_putmeatthecounterofacafe'，forI
　　havenobusinesshere。"
　　Thepower，withoutviolence，andthegrandeurwithwhichshesaidthiswouldhavebroughtdownthehousehadshespokenitinaplaywithoutanoteofmusic；andAshmeaddrewbackrespectfully，butchuckledinternallyattheideaofthisMinervagivingchangeinacafe'。
　　Andnowhercuewascoming。Sheorderedeverybodyoutoftheentrancenotveryceremoniously，anddrewwellback。Then，athercue，shemadeastatelyrush，andso，beinginfullswingbeforesheclearedthewing，shesweptintothecenterofthestagewithgreatrapidityandresolution；notraceeitherofhersorrowfulheartorherquakinglimbswasvisiblefromthefront。
　　Therewasalittleapplause，allduetoAshmead'spreliminaryapology，buttherewasnorealreception；forGermanyislargeandmusical，andshewasnotimmediatelyrecognizedatHomburg。Buttherewasthatindescribableflutterwhichmarksagoodimpressionandkeenexpectationsuddenlyaroused。Shewasbeautifulonthestageforonething；herfigurerathertallandstately，andherfacefullofpower:andthentheverywayshecameonshowedthestepandcarriageofanartistathomeupontheboards。
　　Shecastarapidglanceroundthehouse，observeditssize，andfeltherway。Shesungherfirstsongevenly，butnottamely，yetwithrestrainedpower；butthetonesweresofullandflexible，theexpressionsoeasyyetexact，thatthejudgessawtherewasnoeffort，andsuspectedsomethingbigmightbeyetinstoreto-night。Attheendofhersongshedidletoutforamoment，and，atthiswell-timedforetasteofherpower，therewasapplause，butnothingextravagant。
　　Shewasquitecontent，however。ShemetAshmead，asshecameoff，andsaid，"Alliswell，myfriend，sofar。Theyaresittinginjudgmentonme，likesensiblepeople，andnotinahurry。Iratherlikethat。"
　　"Yourownfault，"saidJoseph。"Youshouldhavebeenannounced。Prejudiceisasurercardthanjudgment。Thepublicisanass。"
　　"Itmustcometothesamethingintheend，"saidtheKloskingfirmly。
　　"Onecansing，oronecannot。"
　　Hernextsongwasencored，andshecameoffflushedwithartandgratifiedpride。"Ihavenofearsnow，"saidshe，toherAchates，firmly。
　　"Ihavemybarometer；ayoungladyinthestalls。Oh，suchabeautifulcreature，withblackhairandeyes!Sheapplaudsmefearlessly。Hergloriouseyesspeaktomine，andinspireme。Sheis_happy，_sheis。I
　　drinksunbeamsather。Ishallactandsing'LeParlated'Amor'for_her_——andyouwillsee。"
　　Betweentheacts，whoshouldcomeinbutNedSeverne，andglidedintothevacantstallbyZoe'sside。
　　Shequiveredathiscomingnearher；hesawit，andfeltathrillofpleasurehimself。
　　"Howis'S。T。'?"saidshe，kindly。
　　"'S。T。'?"saidhe，forgetting。
　　"Why，yoursickfriend，tobesure。"
　　"Oh，nothalfsobadashethought。Iwasafooltoloseanhourofyoufor_him。_Hewashipped；hadlostallhismoneyat_rougeetnoir。_SoI
　　lenthimfiftypounds，andthatdidhimmoregoodthanthedoctor。Youforgiveme?"
　　"Forgiveyou?Iapprove。Areyougoingbacktohim?"saidshe，demurely。
　　"No，thankyou，Ihavemadesacrificesenough。"
　　Andsoindeedhehad，havinggotcleanedoutofthreehundredpoundsthroughpreferringgamblingtobeauty。
　　"No——howdareyou?——andsaidasingerthathadretiredwouldperformthepartof'Siebel，tooblige；andshehasobligedmeforone。Sheis，oh，sosuperiortotheothers!Suchaheavenlycontralto；andheruppernotes，honeydroppingfromthecomb。Andthensheissomodest，sodignified，_and_sobeautiful。Sheisfairasalily；andsuchaqueen-likebrow，anddeep，grayeyes，fullofsadnessandsoul。I'mafraidsheisnothappy。Onceortwiceshefixedthemonme，andtheymagnetizedme，anddrewmetoher。SoImagnetizedherinreturn。I
　　shouldknowheranywherefiftyyearshence。Now，ifIwereaman，I
　　shouldlovethatwomanandmakeherloveme。"
　　"ThenIamverygladyouarenotaman，"saidSeverne，tenderly。
　　"SoamI，"whisperedZoe，andblushed。Thecurtainrose。
　　"Listennow，Mr。Chatterbox，"saidZoe。
　　NedSevernecomposedhimselftolisten；butFrauleinGraashadnotsungmanybarsbeforeherevolted。"Listentowhat?"saidhe；"andlookatwhat?TheonlyMargueriteintheplaceisbymyside。"
　　Zoecoloredwithpleasure；buthergoodsensewasnottobeblinded。"TheonlygoodblackMephistophe-_less_youmean，"saidshe。"TobeMarguerite，onemustbegreat，andsweet，andtender；yes，andfarmorelovelythaneverwomanwas。ThatladyisabettercolorforthepartthanIam；butneithershenorIshalleverbeMarguerite。"
　　Hemurmuredinherear。"YouareMarguerite，foryoucouldfireaman'sheartsothathewouldsellhissoultogainyou。"
　　Itwastheaccentofpassionandthesensitivegirlquivered。Yetshedefendedherself——inwords，"Hush!"saidshe。"Thatiswicked——outofanopera。Fannywouldlaughatyou，ifsheheard。"
　　Hereweretworeasonsfornotmakingsuchhotloveinthestallsofanopera。Whichofthetwoweighedmostwiththefairreasonershallbelefttoherownsex。
　　ThebriefsceneendedwiththedeclarationoftheevilspiritthatMargueriteislost。
　　"There，"saidZoe，naively，"thatisover，thankgoodness:nowyouwillhear_my_singer。"
　　SiebelandMartacameonfromoppositesidesofthestage。"See!"saidZoe，"isn'tshelovely?"andsheturnedherbeamingfacefullonSeverne，toshareherpleasurewithhim。Toheramazementthemanseemedtransformed:adarkcloudhadcomeoverhissunnycountenance。Hesat，pale，andseemedtostareatthetall，majestic，dreamysinger，whostoodimmovable，dressedlikeavelvetyouth，yetlookinglikenoearthlyboy，butadrapedstatueofMercury，"Newlightedonaheaven-kissinghill。"
　　Thebloodlefthislips，andZoethoughthewasfaint；butthenextmomentheputhishandkerchiefhastilytohisnose，andwriggledhiswayout，witharushandacrawl，strangelycombined，attheverymomentwhenthesingerdeliveredherfirstcommandingnoteofrecitative。
　　Everybodyaboutlookedsurprisedanddisgustedatsoill-timedanexit；
　　butZoe，whohadseenhiswhiteface，wasseriouslyalarmed，andmadeamovementtorisetoo，andwatch，orevenfollowhim；but，whenhegottotheside，helookedbacktoher，andmadeherasignalthathisnosewasbleeding，butitwasofnogreatconsequence。Heevenpointedwithhisfingeroutandthenbackagain，indicatingheshouldnotbelonggone。
　　Thisre-assuredhergreatly；forshehadalwaysbeentoldalittlebleedingofthatsortwasgoodforhot-headedyoungpeople。Thenthesingertookcompleteholdofher。Thecomposer，tobalancethedelightfulpartofMarguerite，hasgivenSiebelamelodywithwhichwonderscanbedone；andtheKloskinghadmadeaconsiderablereserveofherpowersforthiscrowningeffort。Afterarecitativethatrivaledthesilvertrumpet，sheflungherselfwithimmediateandelectrifyingardorintothemelody；
　　theorchestra，takenbysurprise，foughtfeeblyfortheoldripple；buttheKlosking，resolutebynature，wasnowmightyasNeptune，andwouldhaveherbigwaves。Themomentarystruggle，inwhichshewasloyallysecondedbytheconductor，evokedhergrandpowers。Catguthadtoyieldtobrains，andthewholeorchestra，composed，afterall，ofgoodmusicians，sooncaughtthedivineafflatus，andthelittletheaterseemedonfirewithmusic；theair，sungwithalargerhythm，swelledandrose，andthrilledeverybreastwithamazementanddelight；thehousehungbreathless:by-and-bytherewerepalecheeks，pantingbosoms，andweteyes，thetrue，raretriumphsofthesovereignsofsong；andwhenthelastnotehadpealedandceasedtovibrate，thepent-upfeelingsbrokeforthinaroarofapplause，whichshookthedome，followedbyaclappingofhands，likeasalvo，thatneverstoppedtillInaKlosking，whohadretired，cameforwardagain。
　　Shecourtesiedwithadmirabledignity，modesty，andrespectfulgravity，andtheapplausethundered，andpeopleroseatherinclustersaboutthehouse，andwavedtheirhatsandhandkerchiefsather，andalittleItalianrecognizedher，andcriedoutasloudashecould，"VivalaKlosking!viva!"andsheheardthat，anditgaveherathrill；andZoeVizard，beingoutofEngland，and，therefore，braveasalioness，stoodboldlyupatherfullheight，and，takingherbouquetinherrighthand，carrieditswiftlytoherleftear，andsoflungit，withafreeback-handedsweep，moreOrientalthanEnglish，intotheair，anditlightedbesidethesinger；andshesawthenoblemotion，andthebouquetfly，and，whenshemadeherlastcourtesyatthewing，shefixedhereyesonZoe，andthenputherhandtoherheartwithamosttouchinggesturethatsaid，"MostofallIvalueyourbouquetandyourpraise。"
　　Thenthehousebuzzed，andrankswereleveled；littlepeoplespoketobigpeople，andbigtolittle，inmutualcongratulation；foratsuchraremomentsexceptinAnglo-Saxonyinstinctseemstotellmenthattrueartisasunshineofthesoul，andblessestherichandthepooralike。
　　Onepersonwasaffectedinanotherway。HarringtonVizardsatraptinattention，andnevertookhiseyesoffher，yetsaidnotaword。
　　SeveralRussianandPrussiangrandeessoughtanintroductiontothenewsinger。Butshepleadedfatigue。
　　Themanagerentreatedhertosupwithhim，andmeettheGrandDukeofHesse。Shesaidshehadapriorengagement。
　　Shewentquietlyhome，andsuppedwithherfaithfulAshmead，andveryheartilytoo；fornaturewasexhausted，andagitationhadquitespoiledherdinner。
　　JosephAshmead，intheprideofhisheart，proposedabottleofchampagne。TheQueenofSong，withtriumphflushed，lookedratherblueatthat。"Myfriend，"saidshe，inameek，deprecatingway，"weareworking-people:isnotBordeauxgoodenoughfor_us?"_
　　"Yes；butitisnotgoodenoughfortheoccasion，"saidJoseph，alittletestily。"Well，nevermind；"andhemutteredtohimself，"thatistheworstof_good_women:theyaresoterriblystingy。"
　　TheQueenofSong，withtriumphflushed，didnotcatchthesewords，butonlyalittlegrowling。However，assupperproceeded，shegotuneasy。Sosherangthebell，andordereda_pint:_ofthisshedrankonespoonful。
　　Theremainder，co-operatingwithtriumphandclaret，keptAshmeadinagreatflowofspirits。Hetracedherabrilliantcareer。TobephotographedtomorrowmorningasSiebel，andinplaindress。Paragraphsin_Era，Figaro，Galignani，Inde'pendanceBelge，_andtheleadingdailies。Largewood-cutsbeforeleavingHomburgforParis，London，Vienna，St。Petersburg，andNewYork。"
　　"I'minyourhands，"saidshe，andsmiledlanguidly，topleasehim。
　　Butby-and-byhelookedather，andfoundshewastakingalittlecryalltoherself。
　　"Dearme!"saidhe，"whatisthematter?"
　　"Myfriend，forgiveme。_He_wasnottheretosharemytriumph。"
　　CHAPTERIV。
　　AStheoperadrewtoanend，ZoebegantolookroundmoreandmoreforSeverne；buthedidnotcome，andLordUxmoorofferedhisarmearnestly。
　　Shetookit；buthungbackamomentonhisveryarm，totellHarringtonMr。Severnehadbeentakenill。
　　Attherailwaystationthetruantemergedsuddenly，justasthetrainwasleaving；butLordUxmoorhadsecuredthreeseats，andthedefaulterhadtogowithHarrington。Onreachingthehotel，theladiestooktheirbed-candles；butUxmoorfoundtimetoproposeanexcursionnextday，Sunday，toalovelylittlelake——opencarriage，fourhorses。Theyoungladiesaccepted，butMr。Severnedeclined；hethankedLordUxmoorpolitely，buthehadarrearsofcorrespondence。
　　Zoecastamortifiedandratherahaughtyglanceonhim，andFannyshruggedhershouldersincredulously。
　　ThesetwoladiesbrushedhairtogetherinZoe'sroom。Thatisasoothingoperation，mymasters，andfamousforstimulatingfemalestofriendlygossip；butthistimetherewas，foronce，aguardedreserve。Zoewasirritated，puzzled，mortified，andevengrievedbySeverne'sconduct。
　　Fannywasgnawedbyjealousy，andoutoftemper。ShehadforgivenZoeNedSeverne。Butthatyoungladywasinsatiable；LordUxmoor，too，hadfallenopenlyinlovewithher——openlytoafemaleeye。So，then，ablondehadnochance，withadarkgirlby:thusreasonedshe，anditwasintolerable。Itwassometimebeforeeitherspokeanatomofwhatwasuppermostinhermind。Theyeachdoledoutahundredsentencesthatmissedthemindandmingledreadilywiththeatmosphere，being，infact，merepreliminaryandidleair。Sotwodeer，induel，goaboutandabout，andevenaffecttolookanotherway，tilltheyareripeforcollision。
　　Therebewriterswouldgivethereaderallthepreliminarypuffsofarticulatedwind，andeverybodywouldsay，"Howclever!Thatisjustthewaygirlsreallytalk。"ButIleavethegloryofphotographingnullitiestothegeniusesoftheage，andruntothefirstwordswhichcould，withoutimpiety，becalleddialogue。
　　"Don'tyouthinkhisconductalittlemysterious?"saidZoe，_mal'apropos_ofanythingthathadbeensaidhitherto。
　　"Well，yes；rather，"saidFanny，withmarkedcarelessness。
　　"First，asickfriend；thenableedingatthenose；andnowhewon'tdrivetothelakewithus。Arrearsofcorrespondence?Pooh!"
　　Now，Fanny'ssuspicionsweredeeperthanZoe's；shehadobservedSevernekeenly:butitwasnothercuetospeak。Sheyawnedandsaid，"What_does_itmatter?"
　　"Don'tbeunkind，Fanny。Itmattersto_me。"_
　　"Notit。Youhaveanotherready。"
　　"Whatother?ThereisnoonethatI——Fanny。"
　　"Oh，nonsense!Themanisevidentlysmitten，andyoukeepencouraginghim。"
　　"No，Idon't；Iambarelycivil。Anddon'tbeill-natured。What_can_I
　　do?"
　　"Why，becontentwithoneatatime。"
　　"Itisveryrudetotalkso。Besides，Ihaven'tgotone，muchlesstwo。I
　　begintodoubt_him；_and，LordUxmoor!youknowIcannotpossiblycareforhim——anacquaintanceofyesterday。"
　　"Butyouknowallabouthim——thatheisanexcellent_parti，"_saidFanny，withaprovokingsneer。
　　Thiswasnottobeborne。
　　"Oh!"saidZoe，"Isee；youwanthimforyourself。Itis_you_thatarenotcontentwithone。YouforgethowpoorHarringtonwouldmissyourattentions。Hewould_begin_toappreciatethem——whenhehadlostthem。"
　　Thisstung，andFannyturnedwhiteandredbyturns。"Ideservethis，"
　　saidshe，"forwastingadviceonacoquette。"
　　"Thatisnottrue。I'mnocoquette；andhereIam，askingyouradvice，andyouonlysnubme。Youareajealous，cross，unreasonablething。"
　　"Well，I'mnotahypocrite。"
　　'Ineverwascalledsobefore，"saidZoe，noblyandgently。
　　"Thenyouwerenotfoundout，thatisall。Youlooksosimpleandingenuous，andblushifamansayshalfawordtoyou；andallthetimeyouareagreaterflirtthanIam。"
　　"Oh，Fanny!"screamedZoe，withhorror。
　　Itseemsareparteemaybeconveyedinascream；forFannynowlosthertemperaltogether。"Yourconductwiththosetwomenisabominable，"saidshe。"Iwon'tspeaktoyouanymore。"
　　"Ibegyouwill_not，_inyourpresenttemper，"saidZoe，withunaffecteddignity，andrisinglikeaGreekcolumn。
　　Fannyflouncedoutoftheroom。
　　Zoesatdownandsighed，andhergloriouseyesweredimmed。
　　Mystery——doubt——andnowaquarrel。Whataday!Atherage，alittlecloudseemstodarkenthewholesky。
　　Nextmorningthelittlepartymetatbreakfast。LordUxmoor，anticipatingadelightfulday，wasinhighspirits，andheandFannykeptuptheball。
　　Shehadresolved，inthesilentwatchesofthenight，tocontesthimwithZoe，andmakeeverypossibleuseofSeverne，intheconflict。
　　Zoewassilentand_distraite，_anddidnoteventrytocompetewithhersparklingrival。ButLordUxmoor'seyesoftenwanderedfromhissprightlycompaniontoZoe，anditwasplainhelongedforawordfromhermouth。
　　Fannyobserved，bitherlip，andtackedinternally，"'boutship，"asthesailorssay。Hergamenow，conceivedinamoment，andatonceputinexecution，wastoencourageUxmoor'sattentionstoZoe。ShebeganbyopenlycourtingMr。Severne，tomakeZoetalktoUxmoor，andalsomakehimthinkthatSeverneandshewerethelovers。
　　Herintentionsweretoutilizethecomingexcursion:shewouldattachherselftoHarrington，andsodriveZoeandUxmoortogether；andthenLordUxmoor，athispresentrateofamorousadvance，wouldprobablyleadZoetoadetachedrock，andmakeheraseriousdeclaration。Thisgood，artfulgirlfeltsuresuchadeclaration，madeafewmonthshenceinBarfordshire，wouldbeaccepted，andherselfleftinthecold。Thereforesheresolveditshouldbemadeprematurely，andinPrussia，withSeverneathand，andsoinallprobabilitycometonothing。Sheevenglimpsedavistaofconsequences，andinthatlittleavenuediscernedthefigureofFannyDoverplayingthepartofconsoler，friend，andultimatelyspousetoawealthynoble。
　　CHAPTERV。
　　THEletterswerebroughtin；onewastoVizard，fromHerries，announcingaremittance；onetoLordUxmoor。Onreadingit，hewassurprisedintoanexclamation，andhisfaceexpressedgreatconcern。
　　"Oh!"saidZoe——"Harrington!"
　　Harrington'sattentionbeingthusdrawn，hesaid，"Nobadnews，Ihope?"
　　"Yes，"saidUxmoor，inalowvoice，"verybad。Myoldest，truest，dearestfriendhasbeenseizedwithsmall-pox，andhislifeisindanger。Hehasaskedforme，poorfellow。Thisisfromhissister。Imuststartbythetwelveo'clocktrain。"
　　"Small-pox!Why，itiscontagious，"criedFanny；"andsodisfiguring!"
　　"Ican'thelpthat，"saidthehonestfellow；andinstantlyrangthebellforhisservant，andgavetherequisiteorders。
　　Zoe，whoseeyehadneverlefthimallthetime，said，softly，"Itisbraveandgoodofyou。Wepoor，emotional，cowardlygirlsshouldsitdownandcry。"
　　_"You_wouldnot，MissVizard，"saidhe，firmly，lookingfullather。"Ifyouthinkyouwould，youdon'tknowyourself。"
　　Zoecoloredhigh，andwassilent。
　　ThenLordUxmoorshowedthetrueEnglishgentleman。"Idohope，"saidhe，earnestly，thoughinasomewhatbrokenvoice，"thatyouwillnotletthisspoilthepleasurewehadplannedtogether。Harringtonwillbemydeputy。"
　　"Well，Idon'tknow，"saidHarrington，sympathizingly。Mr。Severneremarked，"Suchanoccurrenceputspleasureoutofone'shead。"Thishesaid，withhiseyesonhisplate，likeonerepeatingalesson。"Vizard，I
　　entreatyou，"saidUxmoor，almostvexed。"Itwillonlymakememoreunhappyifyoudon't。"
　　"Wewillgo，"criedZoe，earnestly；"wepromisetogo。Whatdoesitmatter?Weshallthinkofyouandyourpoorfriendwhereverweare。AndI