\"Well，\"saidVizard，\"youmustadmititishardheshouldlosehisownmoney。AndyetIownIammostanxioustogethimawayfromthisplace。
Indeed，Ihaveaproject；Iwanthimtorusticateafewmonthsatourplace，whileIsetmylawyertolookintohisaffairsandseeifhisestatecannotbecleared。I\'llbeboundthefarmsareunderlet。WhatdoestheAdmirableCrichtonknowaboutsuchtrifles?\"
FannylookedatZoe，whosecolorwasrisinghighatallthis。\"Well!\"
saidshe，\"whenyougentlemenfallinlove_witheachother，_youcertainlyarefaithfulcreatures。\"
\"Becausewecancountonfidelityinreturn，\"saidVizard。Hethoughtalittle，andsaid，\"Well，astotheotherthing——youleaveittome。Letusunderstandoneanother。Nothingwesawatthegambling-tableistobementionedbyus。\"
\"No。\"
\"CrichtonistobetakentoEnglandforhisgood。\"
\"Yes。\"
\"AndIamtobegratefultoyouforyourco-operationinthis。\"
\"Youcan，ifyoulike。\"
\"Andyouwillsecureanagreeablecompanionfortherestofthetour，eh?——mydiplomaticcousinandmysilentsister。\"
\"Yes；butitistoobadofyoutoseethroughapoorgirl，andherlittlegame，likethat。Iownheisacharmingcompanion。\"
Fanny\'scunningeyestwinkled，andZoeblushedcrimsontoseehernoblebrothermanipulatedbythisartfulminxandthenflatteredforhisperspicacity。
Fromthatmomentarevulsiontookplaceinhermind，andpridefoughtfuriouslywithlove——foratime。
ThiswassoonmadeapparenttoFannyDover。Whentheyretired，Zoelookedverygloomy；soFannyasked，rathersharply，\"Well，whatisthematternow?Didn\'tIdoitcleverly?\"
\"Yes，yes，toocleverly。Oh，Fanny，Ibegintorevoltagainstmyself。\"
\"Thisisnice!\"saidFanny。\"Goon，dear。ItisjustwhatIoughttohaveexpected。Youwerethere。Youhadonlytointerfere。Youdidn\'t。Andnowyouarediscontented。\"
\"Notwithyou。Spareme。Youarenottoblame，andIamveryunhappy。I
amlosingmyself-respect。Oh，ifthisgoeson，Ishallhatehim!\"
\"Yes，dear——forfiveminutes，andthenlovehimdouble。Come，don\'tdeceiveyourself，anddon\'ttormentyourself。Allyourtrouble，weshallleaveitbehindusto-morrow，andeveryhourwilltakeusfurtherfromit。\"
Withthispracticalviewofmatters，shekissedZoeandhurriedtobed。
ButZoescarcelyclosedhereyesallnight。
Severnedidnotreachthehoteltillpasteleveno\'clock，andwentstraighttohisownroom。
CHAPTERX。
ASHMEADaccompaniedMademoiselleKloskingtoherapartment。Itwaslighted，andtheclothlaidforsupperunderthechandelier，asnow-whiteHamburgdamask。Ashmeadtookthewinningsoutofhispocket，andproudlypiledthegoldandcrumplednotesinoneprodigiousmassuponthelinen，thatshonelikesatin，andmadethegoldlookdoublyinviting。Thenhedrewbackandgloatedonit。TheKlosking，too，stoodandeyedthepileofwealthwithamazementandacertainreverence。\"Letmecountit，\"saidAshmead。Hedidso，anditcametofourthousandninehundredandeighty-onepounds，Englishmoney。\"Andtothink，\"saidhe，\"ifyouhadtakenmyadviceyouwouldnothaveapennyofthis!\"
\"I\'lltakeyouradvicenow，\"saidshe。\"Iwillnevergambleagain。\"
\"Well，takemyadvice，andlockuptheswagbeforeacreatureseesit。
Homburgisfullofthieves。\"
Shecomplied，andtookawaythemoneyinanapkin。
Ashmeadcalledafterhertoknowmightheordersupper。
\"Ifyouwillbesokind。\"
Ashmeadrejoicedatthisunguardedpermission，andorderedasupperthatmadeKarlstare。
TheKloskingreturnedinabouthalfanhour，cladinacrisp_peignoir。_
Ashmeadconfrontedher。\"Ihaveorderedabottleofchampagne，\"saidhe。
Heranswersurprisedhim。\"Youhavedonewell。Wemustnowbegintoprovethetruthoftheoldproverb，\'Cequivientdelaflutes\'envaautambour。\'\"
AtsupperMr。Ashmeadwasthechiefdrinker，and，byanaturalconsequence，thechiefspeaker:heheldoutbrilliantprospects；hefavoredtheKloskingwithadiscourseonadvertising。Notalentavailedwithoutit；largeposters，pictures，window-cards，etc。；butashertalentwassuperlative，hemustnowendeavortokeepupwithitbyinventioninhisline——thepuffcircumstantial，thepuffpoetic，thepuffanecdotal，thepuffcontroversial，alltendingtoblowthefameoftheKloskingineveryeye，andringitineveryear。\"Youtakemyadvice，\"
saidhe，\"anddevotethismoney，everypennyofit，toPublicity。Don\'tyoutouchasingleshinerforanythingthatdoesnotreturnahundredpercent。Publicitydoes，whenthearticleisprime。\"
\"Youforget，\"saidshe，\"thismoneydoesnotallbelongtome。Anothercanclaimhalf；thegentlemanwithwhomweareinpartnership。\"
Ashmeadlookedliterallyblue。\"Nonsense!\"saidhe，roughly。\"Hecanonlyclaimhisfiftypounds。\"
\"Nay，myfriend。Itooktwoequalsums:onewashis，onemine。\"
\"Thathasnothingtodowithit。Hetoldmetobetforhim。Ididn\'t；andIshalltakehimbackhisfiftypoundsandsayso。Iknowwheretofindhim。\"
\"Where?\"
\"Thatismybusiness。Don\'tyougomadnow，andbreakmyheart。\"
\"Well，myfriend，wewilltalkofittomorrowmorning。Itcertainlyisnotveryclear；andperhaps，afterIhaveprayedandslept，Imayseemoreplainlywhatisright。\"
Ashmeadobservedshewaspale，andaskedher，withconcern，ifshewasill。
\"No，notill，\"saidshe，\"butwornout。Myfriend，Iknewnotatthetimehowgreatwasmyexcitement；butnowIamconsciousthatthisafternoonI
havelivedaweek。Myverykneesgivewayunderme。\"
Uponthisadmission，Ashmeadhurriedhertobed。
Shesleptsoundlyforsomehours；but，havingonceawakened，shefellintoahalf-sleeplessstate，andwasfullofdreamsandfancies。Thesepreyedonherso，thatsheroseanddispatchedaservanttoAshmead，withalineinpencilbegginghimtotakeanearlybreakfastwithher，atnineo\'clock。
Assoonaseverhecameshebeganuponthetopicoflastnight。Shehadthoughtitover，andsaid，frankly，shewasnotwithouthopesthegentleman，ifhewasreallyagentleman，mightbecontentedwithsomethinglessthanhalf。Butshereallydidnotseehowshecouldrefusehimsomeshareofherwinnings，shouldhedemandit。\"Thinkofit，\"saidshe。\"Thepoormanloses——fourhundredpounds，Ithinkyousaid。Thenhesays，\'Betyouforme，\'andgoesaway，trustingtoyourhonor。Hisluckchangesinmyhands。Ishetoloseallwhenheloses，andwinnothingwhenhewins，merelybecauseIamsofortunateastowinmuch?However，weshallhearwhat_he_says。Yougavehimyouraddress。\"
\"IsaidIwasat\'TheGoldenStar，\'\"growledAshmead，inatonethatplainlyshowedhewasvexedwithhimselfforbeingsocommunicative。
\"Thenhewillpayusavisitassoonashehears:soIneedgivemyselfnofurthertrouble。\"
\"Whyshouldyou?Waittillhecomes，\"saidcraftyAshmead。
InaKloskingcolored。Shefeltherfriendwastemptingher，andfeltshewasnotquitebeyondthepoweroftemptation。
\"Whatwashelike?\"saidshe，toturntheconversation。
\"ThehandsomestyoungfellowIeversaw。\"
\"Young，ofcourse?\"
\"Yes，quiteaboy。Atleast，helookedaboy。Tobesure，histalkwasnotlikeaboy\'s；veryprecocious，Ishouldsay。\"
\"Whatapity，tobegingamblingsoyoung!\"
\"Oh，heisallright。Ifheloseseveryfarthingofhisown，hewillmarrymoney。Anywomanwouldhavehim。Youneversawsuchacurleddarling。\"
\"Darkorfair?\"
\"Fair。Pink-and-white，likeagirl；ahandlikealady。\"
\"Indeed。Fineeyes?\"
\"Splendid!\"
\"Whatcolor?\"
\"Idon\'tknow。Lordblessyou，amandoesnotexamineanotherman\'seyes，likeyouladies。However，nowIthinkofit，therewasonecuriousthingIshouldknowhimbyanywhere。\"
\"Andwhatwasthat?\"
\"Well，yousee，hishairwasbrown；butjustabovetheforeheadhehadgotonelockthatwaslikeyourown——golditself。\"
Whilehesaidthis，theKlosking\'sfaceunderwentthemostrapidandstrikingchanges，andatlastshesatlookingathimwildly。
Itwassometimebeforehenoticedher，andthenhewasquitealarmedatherstrangeexpression。\"Whatisthematter?\"saidhe。\"Areyouill?\"
\"No，no，no。Onlyalittle——astonished。Suchathingasthatisveryrare。\"
\"Thatitis。Ineversawacasebefore。\"
\"Notone，inallyourlife?\"askedshe，eagerly。
\"Well，no；notthatIremember。\"
\"Excusemeaminute，\"saidInaKlosking，andwenthurriedlyfromtheroom。
Ashmeadthoughthermannerverystrange，butconcludedshewasalittleunhingedbyyesterday\'sexcitement。Moreover，therefacedhimanomeletofenormoussize，andsavory。Hethoughtthisworthytodivideaman\'sattentionevenwiththegreatcreature\'stantrums。Hedevotedhimselftoit，anditoccupiedhimsoagreeablythathedidnotobservetheconductofMademoiselleKloskingonherreturn。Sheplacedthreephotographssoftlyonthetable，notveryfarfromhim，andthenresumedherseat；
buthereyeneverlefthim:andshegavemonosyllabicandalmostimpatientrepliestoeverythinghemumbledwithhismouthfullofomelet。
Whenhehaddonehisomelet，henoticedthephotographs。Theywereallcolored。Hetookoneup。Itwasanelderlywoman，sweet，venerable，andfair-haired。HelookedatIna，andatthephotograph，andsaid，\"Thisisyourmother。\"
\"Itis。\"
\"Itisangelic——asmightbeexpected。\"
Hetookupanother。
\"Thisisyourbrother，Isuppose。Stop。Haloo!——whatisthis?Aremyeyesmakingafoolofme?\"
Heheldoutthephotographatarm\'slength，andstaredfromittoher。
\"Why，madam，\"saidhe，inanawestruckvoice，\"thisisthegentleman——theplayer——I\'dsweartohim。\"
Inastartedfromherseatwhilehespoke。\"Ah!\"shecried，\"Ithoughtso——myEdward!\"andsatdown，tremblingviolently。
Ashmeadrantoher，andsprinkledwaterinherface，forsheseemedreadytofaint:butshemurmured，\"No，no!\"andsoonthecolorrushedintoherface，andsheclaspedherhandstogether，andcried，\"Ihavefoundhim!\"
andsoonthestormofvaryingemotionsendedintearsthatgaveherrelief。
Itwasalongtimebeforeshespoke；butwhenshedid，herspiritandhernaturalstrengthofcharactertooktheupperhand。
\"Whereishe?\"saidshe，firmly。
\"Hetoldmehewasatthe\'Russie。\'\"
\"Wewillgothereatonce。Whenisthenexttrain?\"
Ashmeadlookedathiswatch。\"Intenminutes。Wecanhardlydoit。\"
\"Yes，wecan。Orderacarriagethisinstant。Iwillbereadyinoneminute。\"
Theycaughtthetrain，andstarted。
Astheyglidedalong，Ashmeadbeggedhernottoacttoohurriedly，andexposeherselftoinsult。
\"Whowilldareinsultme?\"
\"Nobody，Ihope。Still，Icannotbearyoutogointoastrangehotelhuntingthisman。Itismonstrous；butIamafraidyouwillnotbewelcome。Somethinghasjustoccurredtome；thereasonheranoffsosuddenlywas，hesawyoucoming。Therewasamirroropposite。Ah，weneednothavefearedhewouldcomebackforhiswinnings。Idiot——villain!\"
\"Youstabmetotheheart，\"saidIna。\"Heranawayatsightofme?Ah，Jesu，pityme!WhathaveIdonetohim?\"
HonestAshmeadhadmuchadonottoblubberatthispatientcryofanguish，thoughthewomanherselfshednotearjustthen。Buthisjudgmentwasundimmedbypassion，andhegaveherthebenefit。\"Takemyadvice，\"saidhe，\"andworkitthisway。ComeinaclosecarriagetothesidestreetthatisnearesttheRussie。I\'llgointothehotelandaskforhimbyhisname——whatishisname?\"
\"Mr。EdwardSeverne。\"
\"AndsaythatIwasafraidtostakehismoney，butafriendofmine，thatisaboldplayer，undertookit，andhadagreatrunofluck。\'Thereismoneyowingyou，\'saysI，\'andmyfriendhasbroughtit。\'Thenheissuretocome。Youwillhaveyourveildown，I\'llopenthecarriage-door，andtellhimtojumpin，and，whenyouhavegothimyoumustmakehimhearreason。I\'llgiveyouagoodchance——I\'llshutthecarriage-door。\"
Inasmiledathisingenuity——herfirstsmilethatday。\"Youareindeedafriend，\"saidshe。\"Hefearsreproaches，but，whenhefindsheiswelcome，hewillstaywithme；andheshallhavemoneytoplaywith，andamusehimselfhowhelikes。Ikepttootightareinonhim，poorfellow!
Mygoodmothertaughtmeprudence。\"
\"Yes，but，\"saidAshmead，\"youmustpromisemeonething:nottolethimknowhowmuchmoneyyouhavewon，andnottogo，likeagoose，andgivehimalotatonce。Itneverpaystopartwithpowerinthiswickedworld。
Yougivehimtwentypoundsadaytoplaywithwheneverheiscleanedout。
Thenthemoneywilllastyourtime，andhewillneverleaveyou。\"
\"Oh，howcold-heartedandwiseyouare!\"saidshe。\"Butsuchahumiliatingpositionfor_him!\"_
\"Don\'tyoubesilly。Youwon\'tkeephimanyotherway。\"
\"IwillbeaswiseasIcan，\"sighedIna。\"Ihavehadabitterlesson。
Onlybringhimtome，andthen，whoknows?Iamachange:mylovemayrevivehis，andnoneofthesepitiableprecautionsmaybeneeded。Theywouldlowerusboth。\"
Ashmeadgroanedaloud。\"Isee，\"saidhe。\"He\'llsooncleanyouout。Ah，well!hecan\'trobyouofyourvoice，andhecan\'trobyouofyourAshmead。\"
TheysoonreachedFrankfort。Ashmeadputherintoacarriageasagreed，andwenttotheRussie。
Inasat，withherveildown，inthecarriage，andwaitedAshmead\'sreturnwithSeverne。Hewasalongtimecoming。Shebegantodoubt，andthentofear，andwonderwhyhewassolong。
Atlasthecameinsight。
Hewasalone。
Ashedrewnearershesawhisfacewasthoroughlydowncast。
\"Mydearfriend，\"hefaltered，\"youareoutofluckto-day。\"
\"Hewillnotcomewithyou?\"
\"Oh，hewouldcomefastenough，ifhewasthere；butheisgone。\"
\"Gone!ToHomburg?\"
\"No。Unfortunately，heisgonetoEngland。Wentoff，bythefasttrain，anhourago。\"
Inafellbackinsilence，justasifshehadbeenstruckintheface。
\"HeistravelingwithanEnglishfamily，andtheyhavegonestraighthome。Herearetheirnames。Ilookedinthevisitors\'book，andtalkedtotheservant，andall。Mr。Vizard，MissVizard——\"
\"Vizard?\"
\"Yes——MissMaitland，MissDover。See，Iwrotethemalldown。\"
\"Oh，Iamunfortunate!WhywasIeverborn?\"
\"Don\'tsaythat，don\'tsaythat。Itisannoying:butweshallbeabletotracehimnow；and，besides，Iseeotherwaysofgettingholdofhim。\"
Inabrokeinuponhistalk。\"Takemetothenearestchurch，\"shecried。
\"Man\'swordsarevain。Ah，Jesu，letmecrytothee!\"
Hetookhertothenearestchurch。Shewentin，andprayedforfulltwohours。Shecameout，paleandlistless，andAshmeadgotherhomehowhecould。Herverybodyseemedallcrushedandlimp。Ashmeadlefther，sadathearthimself。
SolongasshewasinsightAshmeadcouldthinkonlyofhermisery:butthemomentshewasoutofsight，herememberedthetheater。ShewasannouncedforRosinathatverynight。Hesawtroubleofallsortsbeforehim。Herantothetheater，ingreatalarm，andtoldthemanagershehadbeentakenveryill。Hemustchangethebill。
\"Impossible!\"wasthereply。\"Ifshecan\'tsing，Iclose。\"
Ashmeadwentbackto\"TheStar。\"
Inawasinherbedroom。
Hesentinaline，\"Canyousingtonight?Ifnothesayshemustclose。\"
Thereplycamebackinratheratremblinghand。\"Isuffertoomuchbyfalsehoodtobreakfaithmyself。Ishallpraytillnight:andthenI
shallsing。IfIdieonthestage，allthebetterforme。\"
Wasnotthisagreatsoul?
CHAPTERXI。
THATsamemorningourEnglishpartysnatchedahastybreakfastintravelingattire。Severnewasnotthere；butsentwordtoVizardheshouldbethereintime。
Thisfilledthecup。Zoe\'swoundedpridehadbeenrisinghigherandhigherallthenight，andshecamedownratherpale，frombrokenrest，andsternlyresolved。ShehadafewseriouswordswithFanny，andsketchedheroutalittlemapofconduct，whichshowedthatshehadthoughtthematterwellover。
Butherplanbidfairtobederanged:Severnewasnotatthestation:
thencameachange。Zoewasrestless，andcastanxiousglances。
Butatthesecondbellhedartedintothecarriage，asifhehadjustdispatchedsomewonderfulbusinesstogetthereintime。Whilethetrainwasstarting，hebusiedhimselfinarranginghisthings；but，oncestarted，heputonhissunnylookandpreparedtobe，asusual，thelifeandsouloftheparty。
But，foronce，hemetafrost。Zoewaswrappedinimpenetrable_hauteur，_
andFannyinpoliteindifference。Neverwaslossoffavormoreablymarkedwithouttheleastill-breeding，andnogoodhandlegiventoseekanexplanation。
Nodoubtastraightforwardman，withjusticeonhisside，wouldhaveaskedthemplumplywhetherhehadbeensounfortunateastooffend，andhow；andthiswaswhatZoesecretlywished，howevershemightseemtorepelit。ButSevernewastoocraftyforthat。Hehadlearnedtheartofwaiting。
Afterafeweffortsatconversationandsmoothrebuffs，heputonasurprised，mortified，andsorrowfulair，andawaitedtheattack，whichhefeltwouldcomesoonorlate。
Thisskillfulinertiabaffledthefair，inaman；inawoman，theymighthaveexpectedit；and，afterafewhours，Zoe\'spatiencebegantowearout。
Thetrainstoppedfortwentyminutes，and，evenwhiletheyweresnatchingalittlerefreshment，thedarklocksandtheblondecameveryclosetogether；andZoe，exasperatedbyherownwoundedprideandthesullentorporofherlover，gaveFannyfreshinstructions，whichnobodywasbetterqualifiedtocarryoutthanthatyounglady，asnobodywasbetterabletobafflefemalestrategythanthegentleman。
Thistime，however，theladieshadcertainadvantages，tobalancehissubtletyandhishabitofstatinganything，trueorfalse，thatsuitedhisimmediatepurpose。
Theyopenedverycat-like。Fannyaffectedtobeoutgrowingherill-humor，andvolunteeredacivilwordortwotoSeverne。ThereuponZoeturnedsharplyawayfromFanny，asifshedisapprovedherconduct，andtookabook。Thiswasprettysly，anddone，Isuppose，toremoveallideaofconcertbetweenthefairassailants；whereasitwasasecretsignalfortheconcerttocomeintooperation，itbeingFanny\'sparttoplayuponSeverne，andZoe\'stowatch，fromhercorner，everylineamentofhisfaceunderfire。
\"By-the-way，Mr。Severne，\"saidFanny，aproposofachurchonahilltheywereadmiring，\"didyougetyourwinnings?\"
\"Mywinnings!Youaresarcastical。\"
\"AmI?ReallyIdidnotintendtobe。\"
\"No，no；forgiveme；butthatdidseemalittlecruel。MissDover，Iwasaheavyloser。\"
\"Notwhilewewerethere。Theladyandgentlemanwhoplayedwithyourmoneywon，oh，suchadeal!\"
\"Thedeviltheydid!\"
\"Yes。Didyounotstaybehind，lastnight，togetit?WeneversawyouattheRussie。\"
\"Iwasveryill。\"
\"Bleedingatthenose?\"
\"No。Thatalwaysrelievesmewhenitcomes。Iamsubjecttofaintingfits:onceIlayinsensiblesolongtheyweregoingtoburyme。Now，dopraytellmewhatmakesyoufancyanybodywonalotwithmymoney。\"
\"Well，Iwill。Youknowyouleftfiftypoundsforafriendtobetwith。\"
Severnestared；butwastooeagerforinformationtoquestionherhowsheknewthis。\"Yes，Idid，\"saidhe。
\"Andyoureallydon\'tknowwhatfollowed?\"
\"Goodheavens!howcanI?\"
\"Well，then，asyouranout——tofaint，MademoiselleKloskingcamein，justasshedidattheopera，youknow，thetimebefore，whenyouranout——tobleed。Sheslippedintoyourchair，theverymomentyouleftit；
andyourfriendwiththeflamingneck-tietoldheryouhadsethimtobetwithyourmoney。By-the-by，Mr。Severne，howonearthdoyouandMademoiselleKlosking，whohavebothsomuchtasteindress，cometohaveamutualfriend，vulgarityinperson，withavelveteencoatandanimpossibleneck-tie?\"
\"Whatareyoutalkingabout，MissDover?IdojustknowMademoiselleKlosking；ImetherinsocietyinVienna，twoyearsago:butthatcadI
commissionedtobetformeIneversawbeforeinmylife。Youarekeepingmeontenter-hooks。Mymoney——mymoney——mymoney!Ifyouhaveaheartinyourbosom，tellmewhatbecameofmymoney。\"
Hewasviolent，forthefirsttimesincetheyhadknownhim，andhiseyesflashedfire。
\"Well，\"saidFanny，beginningtobepuzzledandratherfrightened，\"thisman，whoyou_say_wasanewacquaintance——\"
\"WhomI_say?_DoyoumeantotellmeIamaliar?\"Hefumbledeagerlyinhisbreast-pocket，andproducedacard。\"There，\"saidhe，\"thisisthecardhegaveme，\'Mr。JosephAshmead。\'Now，maythistraindashoverthenextviaduct，andtakeyouandMissVizardtoheaven，andmetohell，ifIeversawMr。JosephAshmead\'sfacebefore。THEMONEY!——THEMONEY!\"
Heutteredthisfuriously，and，itisacuriousfact；butZoeturnedred，andFannypale。ItwasreallyinquiteacowedvoiceMissDoverwentontosay，\"La!don\'tflyoutlikethat。Well，then，themanrefusedtobetwithyourmoney；sothenMademoiselleKloskingsaidshewould；andsheplayed——oh，howshedidplay!Shedoubled，anddoubled，anddoubled，hundredsuponhundreds。Shemadeamountainofgoldandapyramidofbank-notes；andsheneverstoppedtillshebrokethebank——there!\"
\"Withmymoney?\"gaspedSeverne。
\"Yes；withyourmoney。Yourfriendwiththeloudtiepocketedit；Ibegyourpardon，notyourfriend——onlyhers。Harringtonsaysheisher_cherami。\"_
\"Themoneyismine!\"heshrieked。\"Idon\'tcarewhoplayedwithit，itismine。AndthefellowhadtheimpudencetosendmebackmyfiftypoundstotheRussie。\"
\"What!yougavehimyouraddress?\"thiswithaninvoluntaryglanceofsurpriseatZoe。
\"Ofcourse。DoyouthinkIleaveamanfiftypoundstoplaywith，anddon\'tgivehimmyaddress?Hehaswonthousandswithmymoney，andsentmebackmyfifty，forablind，thethief!\"
\"Well，reallyitistoobad，\"saidFanny。\"But，there——I\'mafraidyoumustmakethebestofit。Ofcourse，theirsendingbackyourfiftypoundsshowstheymeantokeeptheirwinnings。\"
\"Youtalklikeawoman，\"saidhe；then，grindinghisteeth，andstretchingoutalongmusculararm，hesaid，\"I\'lltaketheblackguardbythethroatandtearitoutofhim，thoughItearhislifeoutalongwithit。\"
AllthistimeZoehadbeenlookingathimwithconcern，andevenwithadmiration。Heseemedmorebeautifulthanever，toher，undertheinfluenceofpassion，andmoreofaman。
\"Mr。Severne，\"saidshe，\"becalm。Fannyhasmisledyou，withoutintendingit。Shedidnothearallthatpassedbetweenthosetwo；Idid。
Thevelveteenandneck-tiemanrefusedtobetwithyourmoney。ItwasMademoiselleKloskingwhobet，andwithherownmoney。Shetooktwenty-fivepoundsofherown，andtwenty-fivepoundsofyours，andwontwoorthreehundredinafewmoments。Surely，asagentleman，youcannotaskaladytodomorethanrepayyouyourtwenty-fivepounds。\"
SevernewasalittlecowedbyZoe\'sinterference。Hestoodhisground；
butsullenly，insteadofviolently。
\"MissVizard，ifIwereweakenoughtotrustaladywithmymoneyatagamblingtable，Ishouldexpectfoulplay；forIneverknewaladyyetwhowouldnotcheat_atcards，_ifshecould。Itrustedmymoneytoatradesmantobetwith。Ifhetakesafemalepartner，thatisnobusinessofmine；heisresponsibleallthesame，andI\'llhavemymoney。\"
Hejumpedupattheword，andlookedoutatthewindow；heevenfumbledwiththedoor，andtriedtoopenit。
\"Youhadbetterjumpout，\"saidFanny。
\"Andthentheywouldkeepmymoneyforgood。No；\"saidhe，\"I\'llwaitfortheneareststation。\"Hesunkbackintohisseat，lookingunutterablethings。
Fannylookedratherruefulatfirst；thenshesaid，spitefully，\"Youmustbeverysureofyourinfluencewithyouroldsweetheart。Youforgetshehasgotanothernow——atradesman，too。Hewillsticktothemoney，andmakehersticktoit。Theirsendingthefiftypoundsshowsthat。\"
Zoe\'seyeswereonhimwithmicroscopicpower，and，withallhisself-command，shesawhimwinceandchangecolor，andgiveothersignsthatthisshafthadtoldinmanyways。
Heshuthiscountenancethenextmoment；butithadopened，andZoewasonfirewithjealousyandsuspicion。
FluctuatingFannyregrettedtheturnthingshadtaken。Shedidnotwanttoloseapleasantmalecompanion，andshefeltsureZoewouldbeunhappy，andcrosstoher，ifhewent。\"Surely，Mr。Severne，\"shesaid，\"youwillnotdesertusandgobackforsosmallachance。Why，weareahundredandfiftymilesfromHomburg，andallthenearertodearoldEngland。There，there——wemustbekindertoyou，andmakeyouforgetthismisfortune。\"
Thusspokethetrimmer。Thereplytookherbysurprise。
\"AndwhosefaultisitthatIamobligedtogetoutahundredandfiftymilesfromHomburg?Youknewallthis。Youcouldhavegotmeadelayofafewhourstogoandgetmydue。YouknowIamapoorman。Withallyourcleverness，youdon\'tknowwhatmademepoor，oryouwouldfeelsomeremorse，perhaps；butyouknowIampoorwhenmostIcouldwishIwererich。Youhaveheardthatoldwomanthereflingmypovertyinmyteeth；
yetyoucouldkeepthisfromme——justtoassistacheatandplayuponthefeelingsofafriend。Now，whatgoodhasthatdoneyou，toinflictmiseryonmeinsport，onamanwhonevergaveyouamoment\'spainifhecouldhelpit?\"
Fannylookedruefullythiswayandthat，herfacebegantowork，andshelaiddownherarms，ifaladycanbesaidtodothatwholaysdownastrongweaponandtakesupastronger；inotherwords，sheburstoutcrying，andsaidnomore。Yousee，shewaspoorherself。
Severnetooknonoticeofher；hewasaccustomedtomakewomencry。Hethrusthisheadoutofthewindowinhopesofseeingastationnear，andhiswholebeingwasrestlessasifhewouldliketojumpout。
Whilehewasinthisconditionofmindandbody，thehandhehadoncekissedsotenderly，andshockedMissMaitland，passedanenvelopeoverhisshoulder，withtwolineswrittenonitinpencil:
\"IfyouGOBACKTOHOMBURG，obligeMEBYREMAININGthere。\"
Thisdemandsanexplanation；butitshallbebrief。
Fanny\'sshrewdhint，thatthemoneycouldonlybeobtainedfromMdlle。
Klosking，hadpiercedZoethroughandthrough。Hermindgraspedallthathadhappened，allthatimpended，and，wiselydecliningtotryandaccountfor，orreconcile，allthejarringdetails，shesettled，withawoman\'sbroadinstinct，that，somehoworother，hisgoingbacktoHomburgmeantgoingbacktoMademoiselleKlosking。Whetherthatladywouldbuyhimornot，shedidnotknow。Butgoingbacktohermeantgoingajourneytoseearival，withconsequencesillimitable。
Shehadcourage；shehadpride；shehadjealousy。Sheresolvedtoloseherlover，orhavehimalltoherself。Sharehimshewouldnot，norevenendurethetortureofthedoubt。
Shetookanenvelopeoutofhersatchel，andwiththepencilattachedtoherchatelainewrotethefatalwords，\"IfyougobacktoHomburg，obligemebyremainingthere。\"
Atthismomentshewasnotgoadedbypiqueoranypettyfeeling。Indeed，hisreproachtoFannyhadtouchedheralittle，anditwaswiththetearinhereyeshecametotheresolution，andhandedhimthatline，whichtoldhimsheknewhervalue，and，costwhatitmight，wouldpartwithanymanforeverratherthansharehimwiththeKloskingoranyotherwoman。
Severnetooktheline，eyedit，realizedit，fellbackfromthewindow，anddroppedintohisseat。ThisgaveZoeaconsolingsenseofpower。Shehadseenherloverragingandrestless，andwantingtojumpout，yetnowbeheldhimliterallyfelledwithawordfromherhand。
Heleanedhisheadinhishandinasortofbroken-down，collapsed，doggedwaythatmovedherpity，thoughhardlyherrespect。
By-and-byitstruckherasaverygravethingthathedidnotreplybyword，norevenbylook。Hecoulddecidewithaglance，andwhydidhehesitate?WashereallybalancingheragainstMademoiselleKloskingweightedwithashareofhiswinnings?
Thisdoubtwaswormwoodtoherprideandself-respect；buthiscrushedattitudeallayedinsomedegreethemereirritationhisdoubtcaused。
Theminutespassedandthemiles:stillthatbrokenfiguresatbeforeher，withhisfacehiddenbyhiswhitehand。
Zoe\'scouragebegantofalter。Misgivingsseizedher。Shehadmadethatamatteroflovewhich，afterall，toaman，mightbeamerematterofbusiness。Hewaspoor，too，andshehadthrustherjealousybetweenhimandmoney。Hemighthavehispridetoo，andrebelagainstheraffront。
Asforhisthoughts，underthatcrushedexterior，whichheputonforablind，theyweresodeliberateandcalculatingthatIshallnotmixthemonthispagewiththatpureandgenerouscreature\'s。Anothertimewilldotorevealhissordidarithmetic。AsforZoe，shesettleddownintowishing，withallherheart，shehadnotsubmittedherloversoimperiouslytoatest，theseverityofwhichshenowsawshehadunderrated。
Presentlythespeedofthetrainbegantoslacken——alltoosoon。Shenowdreadedtolearnherfate。Wasshe，orwasshenot，worthafewthousandpoundsreadymoney?
Asignal-postwaspast，provingthattheywereabouttoenterastation。
Yetanother。Nowthewheelswerehardlyturning。Nowtheplatformwasvisible。Yethenevermovedhiswhite，delicate，womanishfingersfromhisforehead，butremainedstillabsorbed，andlookedundecided。
Atlastthemotionentirelyceased。Then，assheturnedherheadtoglean，ifpossible，thenameoftheplace，hestoleafurtiveglanceather。Shewaspallid，agitated。Heresolveduponhiscourse。
Assoonasthetrainstopped，heopenedthedoorandjumpedout，withoutawordtoZoe，orevenalook。
Zoeturnedpaleasdeath。\"Ihavelosthim，\"saidshe。
\"No，no，\"criedFanny。\"See，hehasnottakenhiscaneandumbrella。\"
_\"They_willnotkeephimfromflyingtohismoneyandher，\"moanedZoe。
\"Didyounotsee?Heneveroncelookedatme。Hecouldnot。Iamsickatheart。\"
ThissetFannyfluttering。\"There，letmeouttospeaktohim。\"
\"Sitquiet，\"saidZoe，sternly。
\"No；no。Ifyoulovehim——\"
\"Idolovehim——passionately。And_therefore_I\'lldieratherthansharehimwithanyone。\"
\"Butitisdreadfultobefixedhere，andnotallowedtomovehandorfoot。\"
\"Itisthelotofwomen。Letmefeelthehandofafriend，thatisall；
forIamsickatheart。\"
Fannygaveherherhand，andallthesympathyhershallownaturehadtobestow。
Zoesatmotionless，grippingherfriend\'shandalmostconvulsively，astatueoffemalefortitude。
Thissuspensecouldnotlastlong。Theofficialsorderedthetravelerstothecarriages；doorswereopenedandslammed；theenginegaveasnort，andonlyatthatmomentdidMr。EdwardSevernetearthedooropenandboltintothecarriage。
Oh，itwaspitiable，butlovely，toseethebloodrushintoZoe\'sface，andthefireintohereye，andthesweetmouthexpandinasmileofjoyandtriumph!
Shesatamoment，almostparalyzedwithpleasure，andthencasthereyesdown，lesttheirfireshouldproclaimherfeelingstooplainly。
