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regard you in a light which makes me want to protect you even if I
have nothing to gain by it。〃
〃Yet you speak as if you thought you might keep me for yourself。〃
〃For YOURSELF。 I don't want you to suffer。〃
〃Nor to suffer yourself by my doing so；〃 said Rose； looking down。
〃Ah； if you would only marry me next month！〃 he broke out
inconsequently。
〃And give up going to mamma？〃 Rose waited to see if he would say
〃What need that matter？ Can't your mother come to us？〃 But he said
nothing of the sort； he only answered …
〃She surely would be sorry to interfere with the exercise of any
other affection which I might have the bliss of believing that you
are now free； in however small a degree； to entertain。〃
Rose knew that her mother wouldn't be sorry at all； but she contented
herself with rejoining； her hand on the door： 〃Good…bye。 I sha'n't
suffer。 I'm not afraid。〃
〃You don't know how terrible； how cruel； the world can be。〃
〃Yes； I do know。 I know everything！〃
The declaration sprang from her lips in a tone which made him look at
her as he had never looked before； as if he saw something new in her
face； as if he had never yet known her。 He hadn't displeased her so
much but that she would like to give him that impression； and since
she felt that she was doing so she lingered an instant for the
purpose。 It enabled her to see； further； that he turned red； then to
become aware that a carriage had stopped at the door。 Captain Jay's
eyes； from where he stood； fell upon this arrival； and the nature of
their glance made Rose step forward to look。 Her mother sat there；
brilliant； conspicuous； in the eternal victoria； and the footman was
already sounding the knocker。 It had been no part of the arrangement
that she should come to fetch her； it had been out of the questiona
stroke in such bad taste as would have put Rose in the wrong。 The
girl had never dreamed of it； but somehow； suddenly； perversely； she
was glad of it now； she even hoped that her grandmother and her aunt
were looking out upstairs。
〃My mother has come for me。 Good…bye；〃 she repeated； but this time
her visitor had got between her and the door。
〃Listen to me before you go。 I will give you a life's devotion；〃 the
young man pleaded。 He really barred the way。
She wondered whether her grandmother had told him that if her flight
were not prevented she would forfeit money。 Then； vividly； it came
over her that this would be what he was occupied with。 〃I shall
never think of youlet me go！〃 she cried； with passion。
Captain Jay opened the door； but Rose didn't see his face； and in a
moment she was out of the house。 Aunt Julia； who was sure to have
been hovering； had taken flight before the profanity of the knock。
〃Heavens； dear； where did you get your mourning？〃 the lady in the
victoria asked of her daughter as they drove away。
CHAPTER II。
Lady Maresfield had given her boy a push in his plump back and had
said to him； 〃Go and speak to her now； it's your chance。〃 She had
for a long time wanted this scion to make himself audible to Rose
Tramore； but the opportunity was not easy to come by。 The case was
complicated。 Lady Maresfield had four daughters； of whom only one
was married。 It so happened moreover that this one； Mrs。 Vaughan…
Vesey； the only person in the world her mother was afraid of； was the
most to be reckoned with。 The Honourable Guy was in appearance all
his mother's child； though he was really a simpler soul。 He was
large and pink； large； that is； as to everything but the eyes； which
were diminishing points； and pink as to everything but the hair；
which was comparable； faintly； to the hue of the richer rose。 He had
also； it must be conceded； very small neat teeth； which made his
smile look like a young lady's。 He had no wish to resemble any such
person； but he was perpetually smiling； and he smiled more than ever
as he approached Rose Tramore； who； looking altogether； to his mind；
as a pretty girl should； and wearing a soft white opera…cloak over a
softer black dress； leaned alone against the wall of the vestibule at
Covent Garden while； a few paces off； an old gentleman engaged her
mother in conversation。 Madame Patti had been singing； and they were
all waiting for their carriages。 To their ears at present came a
vociferation of names and a rattle of wheels。 The air； through
banging doors； entered in damp； warm gusts； heavy with the stale；
slightly sweet taste of the London season when the London season is
overripe and spoiling。
Guy Mangler had only three minutes to reestablish an interrupted
acquaintance with our young lady。 He reminded her that he had danced
with her the year before； and he mentioned that he knew her brother。
His mother had lately been to see old Mrs。 Tramore； but this he did
not mention； not being aware of it。 That visit had produced； on Lady
Maresfield's part； a private crisis； engendered ideas。 One of them
was that the grandmother in Hill Street had really forgiven the
wilful girl much more than she admitted。 Another was that there
would still be some money for Rose when the others should come into
theirs。 Still another was that the others would come into theirs at
no distant date； the old lady was so visibly going to pieces。 There
were several more besides； as for instance that Rose had already
fifteen hundred a year from her father。 The figure had been betrayed
in Hill Street； it was part of the proof of Mrs。 Tramore's
decrepitude。 Then there was an equal amount that her mother had to
dispose of and on which the girl could absolutely count； though of
course it might involve much waiting； as the mother； a person of
gross insensibility； evidently wouldn't die of cold…shouldering。
Equally definite； to do it justice； was the conception that Rose was
in truth remarkably good looking； and that what she had undertaken to
do showed； and would show even should it fail； cleverness of the
right sort。 Cleverness of the right sort was exactly the quality
that Lady Maresfield prefigured as indispensable in a young lady to
whom she should marry her second son； over whose own deficiencies she
flung the veil of a maternal theory that HIS cleverness was of a sort
that was wrong。 Those who knew him less well were content to wish
that he might not conceal it for such a scruple。 This enumeration of
his mother's views does not exhaust the list； and it was in obedience
to one too profound to be uttered even by the historian that； after a
very brief delay； she decided to move across the crowded lobby。 Her
daughter Bessie was the only one with her； Maggie was dining with the
Vaughan…Veseys； and Fanny was not of an age。 Mrs。 Tramore the
younger showed only an admirable backher face was to her old
gentlemanand Bessie had drifted to some other people； so that it
was comparatively easy for Lady Maresfield to say to Rose； in a
moment： 〃My dear child； are you never coming to see us？〃
〃We shall be delighted to come if you'll ask us；〃 Rose smiled。
Lady Maresfield had been prepared for the plural number； and she was
a woman whom it took many plurals to disconcert。 〃I'm sure Guy is
longing for another dance with you；〃 she rejoined； with the most
unblinking irrelevance。
〃I'm afraid we're not dancing again quite yet；〃 said Rose； glancing
at her mother's exposed shoulders； but speaking as if they were
muffled in crape。
Lady Maresfield leaned her head on one side and seemed almost
wistful。 〃Not even at my sister's ball？ She's to have something
next week。 She'll write to you。〃
Rose Tramore； on the spot； looking bright but vague； turned three or
four things over in her mind。 She remembered that the sister of her
interlocutress was the proverbially rich Mrs。 Bray； a bankeress or a
breweress or a builderess； who had so big a house that she couldn't
fill it unless she opened her doors； or her mouth； very wide。 Rose
had learnt more about London society during these lonely months with
her mother than she had ever picked up in Hill Street。 The younger
Mrs。 Tramore was a mine of commerages； and she had no need to go out
to bring home the latest intelligence。 At any rate Mrs。 Bray might
serve as the end of a wedge。 〃Oh； I dare say we might think of
that；〃 Rose said。 〃It would be very kind of your sister。〃
〃Guy'll think of it； won't you； Guy？〃 asked Lady Maresfield。
〃Rather！〃 Guy responded； with an intonation as fine as if he had
learnt it at a music hall； while at the same moment the name of his
mother's carriage was bawled through the place。 Mrs。 Tramore had
parted with her old gentleman； she turned again to her daughter。
Nothing occurred but what always occurred； which was exactly this
absence of everythinga universal lapse。 She didn't exist； even for
a second； to any recognising eye。 The people who looked at herof
course there were plenty of thosewere only the people who didn't
exist for hers。 Lady Maresfield surged away on her son's arm。
It was this noble matron herself who wrote； the next day； inclosing a
card of invitation from Mrs。 Bray and expressing the hope that Rose
would come and dine and let her ladyship take her。 She should have
only one of her