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；foratsuchraremoments(exceptinAnglo-Saxony)instinctseemstotellmenthattrueartisasunshineofthesoul，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
