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Gravesend while Reginald Falcon was smoking at his front window。
He saw her； and instantly doffed his dressing…gown and donned his
coat to follow her。 He was madly in love with her； and being a man
who had learned to shoot pigeons and opportunities flying； he
instantly resolved to join her in her walk； get her clear of the
town； by the sea…beach； where beauty melts； and propose to her。
Yes； marriage had not been hitherto his habit； but this girl was
peerless： he was pledged by honor and gratitude to Phoebe Dale； but
hang all that now。 〃No man should marry one woman when he loves
another； it is dishonorable。〃 He got into the street and followed
her as fast as he could without running。
It was not so easy to catch her。 Ladies are not built for running；
but a fine； tall； symmetrical girl who has practised walking fast
can cover the ground wonderfully in walkingif she chooses。 It
was a sight to see how Rosa Lusignan squared her shoulders and
stepped out from the waist like a Canadian girl skating； while her
elastic foot slapped the pavement as she spanked along。
She had nearly cleared the town before Falcon came up with her。
He was hardly ten yards from her when an unexpected incident
occurred。 She whisked round the corner of Bird Street； and ran
plump against Christopher Staines； in fact； she darted into his
arms； and her face almost touched the breast she had wounded so
deeply。
CHAPTER IV。
Rosa cried 〃Oh！〃 and put up her hands to her face in lovely
confusion； coloring like a peony。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 said Christopher； stiffly； but in a voice that
trembled。
〃No；〃 said Rosa； 〃it was I ran against you。 I walk so fast now。
Hope I did not hurt you。〃
〃Hurt me？〃
〃Well； then； frighten you？〃
No answer。
〃Oh； please don't quarrel with me in the STREET；〃 said Rosa；
cunningly implying that he was the quarrelsome one。 〃I am going on
the beach。 Good…by！〃 This adieu she uttered softly； and in a
hesitating tone that belied it。 She started off； however； but much
more slowly than she was going before； and； as she went； she turned
her head with infinite grace； and kept looking askant down at the
pavement two yards behind her： moreover she went close to the wall；
and left room at her side for another to walk。
Christopher hesitated a moment； but the mute invitation； so arch
yet timid； so pretty； tender； sly； and womanly； was too much for
him； as it has generally proved for males； and the philosopher's
foot was soon in the very place to which the Simpleton with the
mere tail of her eye directed it。
They walked along； side by side； in silence； Staines agitated；
gloomy； confused； Rosa radiant and glowing； yet not knowing what to
say for herself； and wanting Christopher to begin。 So they walked
along without a word。
Falcon followed them at some distance to see whether it was an
admirer or only an acquaintance。 A lover he never dreamed of； she
had shown such evident pleasure in his company； and had received
his visits alone so constantly。
However； when the pair had got to the beach； and were walking
slower and slower； he felt a pang of rage and jealousy； turned on
his heel with an audible curse； and found Phoebe Dale a few yards
behind him with a white face and a peculiar look。 He knew what the
look meant； he had brought it to that faithful face before to…day。
〃You are better； Miss Lusignan。〃
〃Better； Dr。 Staines？ I am health itself thanks tohem！〃
〃Our estrangement has agreed with you？〃 This very bitterly。
〃You know very well it is not that。 Oh； please don't make me cry
in the streets。〃
This humble petition； or rather meek threat； led to another long
silence。 It was continued till they had nearly reached the shore。
But； meantime； Rosa's furtive eyes scanned Christopher's face； and
her conscience smote her at the signs of suffering。 She felt a
desire to beg his pardon with deep humility； but she suppressed
that weakness。 She hung her head with a pretty； sheepish air； and
asked him if he could not think of something agreeable to say to
one after deserting one so long。
〃I am afraid not；〃 said Christopher； bluntly。 〃I have an awkward
habit of speaking the truth； and some people can't bear that； not
even when it is spoken for their good。〃
〃That depends on temper； and nerves； and things；〃 said Rosa；
deprecatingly； then softly； 〃I could bear anything from you now。〃
〃Indeed！〃 said Christopher； grimly。 〃Well； then； I hear you had no
sooner got rid of your old lover； for loving you too well and
telling you the truth； than you took up another；some flimsy man
of fashion； who will tell you any lie you like。〃
〃It is a story； a wicked story；〃 cried Rosa； thoroughly alarmed。
〃Me； a lover！ He dances like an angel； I can't help that。〃
〃Are his visits at your house like angels'few and far between？〃
And the true lover's brow lowered black upon her for the first
time。
Rosa changed color； and her eyes fell a moment。 〃Ask papa；〃 she
said。 〃His father was an old friend of papa's。〃
〃Rosa； you are prevaricating。 Young men do not call on old
gentlemen when there is an attractive young lady in the house。〃
The argument was getting too close； so Rosa operated a diversion。
〃So；〃 said she； with a sudden air of lofty disdain； swiftly and
adroitly assumed； 〃you have had me watched？〃
〃Not I； I only hear what people say。〃
〃Listen to gossip and not have me watched！ That shows how little
you really cared for me。 Well； if you had； you would have made a
little discovery； that is all。〃
〃Should I？〃 said Christopher； puzzled。 〃What？〃
〃I shall not tell you。 Think what you please。 Yes； sir； you would
have found out that I take long walks every day； all alone； and
what is more； that I walk through Gravesend； hopinglike a goose
that somebody really loved me； and would meet me； and beg my
pardon； and if he had； I should have told him it was only my
tongue； and my nerves； and things； my heart was his； and my
gratitude。 And after all； what do words signify； when I am a good；
obedient girl at bottom？ So that is what you have lost by not
condescending to look after me。 Fine love！Christopher； beg my
pardon。〃
〃May I inquire for what？〃
〃Why； for not understanding me； for not knowing that I should be
sorry the moment you were gone。 I took them off the very next day；
to please you。〃
〃Took off whom？Oh； I understand。 You did？ Then you ARE a good
girl。〃
〃Didn't I tell you I was？ A good； obedient girl； and anything but
a flirt。〃
〃I don't say that。〃
〃But I do。 Don't interrupt。 It is to your good advice I owe my
health； and to love anybody but you； when I owe you my love and my
life； I must be a heartless； ungrateful； worthless Oh；
Christopher； forgive me！ No； no； I mean； beg my pardon。〃
〃I'll do both；〃 said Christopher； taking her in his arms。 〃I beg
your pardon； and I forgive you。〃
Rosa leaned her head tenderly on his shoulder； and began to sigh。
〃Oh； dear； dear！ I am a wicked； foolish girl； not fit to walk
alone。〃
On this admission； Christopher spoke out； and urged her to put an
end to all these unhappy misunderstandings； and to his new torment；
jealousy； by marrying him。
〃And so I would this very minute； if papa would consent。 But；〃
said she； slyly； 〃you never can be so foolish to wish it。 What！ a
wise man like you marry a simpleton！〃
〃Did I ever call you that？〃 asked Christopher； reproachfully。
〃No； dear； but you are the only one who has not； and perhaps I
should lose even the one； if you were to marry me。 Oh； husbands
are not so polite as lovers！ I have observed that； simpleton or
not。〃
Christopher assured her that he took quite a different view of her
character； he believed her to be too profound for shallow people to
read all in a moment： he even intimated that he himself had
experienced no little difficulty in understanding her at odd times。
〃And so；〃 said he； 〃they turn round upon you； and instead of
saying； 'We are too shallow to fathom you；' they pretend you are a
simpleton。〃
This solution of the mystery had never occurred to Rosa； nor indeed
was it likely to occur to any creature less ingenious than a lover：
it pleased her hugely； her fine eyes sparkled； and she nestled
closer still to the strong arm that was to parry every ill； from
mortal disease to galling epithets。
She listened with a willing ear to all his reasons； his hopes； his
fears； and； when they reached her father's door； it was settled
that he should dine there that day； and urge his suit to her father
after dinner。 She would implore the old gentleman to listen to it
favorably。
The lovers parted； and Christopher went home like one who has
awakened from a hideous dream to daylight and happiness。
He had not gone far before he met a dashing dogcart； driven by an
exquisite。 He turned to look after it； and saw it drive up to Kent
Villa。
In a moment he divined his rival； and a sickness of heart came over
him。 But he recovered himself directly； and said； 〃If that is the
fellow； she will not receive him now。〃
She did receive him though： at all events； the dogcart stood at the
door； and its master remained inside。
Christopher stood； and counted