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into an impression of his boundless wealth； and half reconciled him
to Rosa's refusal of Lord Tadcaster； since here was an old suitor；
who； doubtless； with a little encouragement； would soon come on
again。
Under this impression； Mr。 Lusignan gave Falcon more than a little
encouragement； and； as Rosa did not resist； he became a constant
visitor at the villa； and was always there from Saturday to Monday。
He exerted all his art of pleasing； and he succeeded。 He was
welcome to Rosa； and she made no secret of it。
Emily threw herself in his way； and had many a sly talk with him；
while he was pretending to be engaged with young Christie。 He
flattered her； and made her sweet on him； but was too much in love
with Rosa； after his fashion； to flirt seriously with her。 He
thought he might want her services： so he worked upon her after
this fashion； asked her if she would like to keep an inn。
〃Wouldn't I just？〃 said she frankly。
Then he told her that； if all went to his wish in England； she
should be landlady of one of his inns in the Cape Colony。 〃And you
will get a good husband out there directly；〃 said he。 〃Beauty is a
very uncommon thing in those parts。 But I shall ask you to marry
somebody who can help you in the businessor not to marry at all。〃
〃I wish I had the inn；〃 said Emily。 〃Husbands are soon got when a
girl hasn't her face only to look to。〃
〃Well； I promise you the inn；〃 said he； 〃and a good outfit of
clothes； and money in both pockets； if you will do me a good turn
here in England。〃
〃That I would； sir。 But； laws； what can a poor girl like me do for
a rich gentleman like you？〃
〃Can you keep a secret； Emily？〃
〃Nobody better。 You try me； sir。〃
He looked at her well； saw she was one of those who could keep a
secret； if she chose； and he resolved to risk it。
〃Emily； my girl；〃 said he sadly； 〃I am an unhappy man。〃
〃You； sir！ Why； you didn't ought to be。〃
〃I am then。 I am in love； and cannot win her。〃
Then he told the girl a pretty tender tale； that he had loved Mrs。
Staines when she was Miss Lusignan； had thought himself beloved in
turn； but was rejected； and now； though she was a widow； he had not
the courage to court her； her heart was in the grave。 He spoke in
such a broken voice that the girl's good…nature fought against her
little pique at finding how little he was smitten with HER； and
Falcon soon found means to array her cupidity on the side of her
good…nature。 He gave her a five…pound note to buy gloves； and
promised her a fortune； and she undertook to be secret as the
grave； and say certain things adroitly to Mrs。 Staines。
Accordingly； this young woman omitted no opportunity of dropping a
word in favor of Falcon。 For one thing； she said to Mrs。 Staines；
〃Mr。 Falcon must be very fond of children； ma'am。 Why； he worships
Master Christie。〃
〃Indeed！ I have not observed that。〃
〃Why； no； ma'am。 He is rather shy over it； but when he sees us
alone； he is sure to come to us； and say； 'Let me look at my child；
nurse；' and he do seem fit to eat him。 Onst he says to me； 'This
boy is my heir； nurse。' What did he mean by that； ma'am？〃
〃I don't know。〃
〃Is he any kin to you； ma'am？〃
〃None whatever。 You must have misunderstood him。 You should not
repeat all that people say。〃
〃No； ma'am； only I did think it so odd。 Poor gentleman； I don't
think he is happy； for all his money。〃
〃He is too good to be unhappy all his life。〃
〃So I think； ma'am。〃
These conversations were always short； for Rosa； though she was too
kind and gentle to snub the girl； was also too delicate to give the
least encouragement to her gossip。
But Rosa's was a mind that could be worked upon； and these short
but repeated eulogies were not altogether without effect。
At last the insidious Falcon； by not making his approaches in a way
to alarm her； acquired her friendship as well as her gratitude；
and； in short； she got used to him and liked him。 Not being bound
by any limit of fact whatever； he entertained her； and took her out
of herself a little by extemporaneous pictures； he told her all his
thrilling adventures by flood and field； not one of which had ever
occurred； yet he made them all sound like truth； he invented
strange characters； and set them talking； he went after great
whales； and harpooned one； which slapped his boat into fragments
with one stroke of its tail； then died； and he hung on by the
harpoon protruding from the carcass till a ship came and picked him
up。 He shot a lion that was carrying off his favorite Hottentot。
He encountered another； wounded him with both barrels； was seized；
and dragged along the ground； and gave himself up for lost； but
kept firing his revolver down the monster's throat till at last he
sickened him； and so escaped out of death's maw； he did NOT say how
he had fired in the air； and ridden fourteen miles on end； at the
bare sight of a lion's cub； but； to compensate that one reserve；
plunged into a raging torrent and saved a drowning woman by her
long hair； which he caught in his teeth； he rode a race on an
ostrich against a friend on a zebra； which went faster； but threw
his rider； and screamed with rage at not being able to eat him； he；
Falcon； having declined to run unless his friend's zebra was
muzzled。 He fed the hungry； clothed the naked； and shot a wild
elephant in the eye； and all this he enlivened with pictorial
descriptions of no mean beauty； and as like South Africa as if it
had been feu George Robins advertising that continent for sale。
In short； never was there a more voluble and interesting liar by
word of mouth； and never was there a more agreeable creature
interposed between a bereaved widow and her daily grief and
regrets。 He diverted her mind from herself； and did her good。
At last； such was the charm of infinite lying； she missed him on
the days he did not come； and was brighter when he did come and lie。
Things went smoothly； and so pleasantly； that he would gladly have
prolonged this form of courtship for a month or two longer； sooner
than risk a premature declaration。 But more than one cause drove
him to a bolder course； his passion； which increased in violence by
contact with its beautiful object； and also a great uneasiness he
felt at not hearing from Phoebe。 This silence was ominous。 He and
she knew each other； and what the other was capable of。 He knew
she was the woman to cross the seas after him； if Staines left the
diggings； and any explanation took place that might point to his
whereabouts。
These double causes precipitated matters； and at last he began to
throw more devotion into his manner； and having so prepared her for
a few days； he took his opportunity and said； one day； 〃We are both
unhappy。 Give me the right to console you。〃
She colored high； and said； 〃You have consoled me more than all the
world。 But there is a limit； always will be。〃
One less adroit would have brought her to the point； but this
artist only sighed； and let the arrow rankle。 By this means he
out…fenced her； for now she had listened to a declaration and not
stopped it short。
He played melancholy for a day or two； and then he tried her
another way。 He said； 〃I promised your dying husband to be your
protector； and a father to his child。 I see but one way to keep my
word； and that gives me courage to speakwithout that I never
could。 Rosa； I loved you years ago； I am unmarried for your sake。
Let me be your husband； and a father to your child。〃
Rosa shook her head。 〃I COULD not marry again。 I esteem you； I am
very grateful to you： and I know I behaved ill to you before。 If I
could marry again； it would be you。 But I cannot。 Oh； never！ never！〃
〃Then we both are to be unhappy all our days。〃
〃I shall； as I ought to be。 You will not； I hope。 I shall miss
you sadly； but； for all that； I advise you to leave me。 You will
carry my everlasting gratitude； go where you will； that and my
esteem are all I have to give。〃
〃I will go；〃 said he； 〃and I hope he who is gone will forgive my
want of courage。〃
〃He who is gone took my promise never to marry again。〃
〃Dying men see clearer。 I am sure he wishedno matter； it is too
delicate。〃 He kissed her hand and went out； a picture of dejection。
Mrs。 Staines shed a tear for him。
Nothing was heard of him for several days； and Rosa pitied him more
and more； and felt a certain discontent with herself； and doubt
whether she had done right。
Matters were in this state； when one morning Emily came screaming
in from the garden； 〃The child！Master Christie！Where is he？
Where is he？〃
The house was alarmed。 The garden searched； the adjoining paddock。
The child was gone。
Emily was examined； and owned； with many sobs and hysterical cries；
that she had put him down in the summer…house for a minute； while
she went to ask the gardener for some balm； balm tea being a
favorite drink of hers。 〃But there was nobody near that I saw；〃
she sobbed。
Further inquiry proved； however； that a tall gypsy woman had been
seen prowling about that morning； and suspicion instantly fastened
on her。 Servants were sent out right and left； but nothing
discovered； and the a