Havinginstalledherself，withfeminineinstinct，inacrimsoncouchthatframedhertoperfection，ZoeVizardwasatworkembroidering。Shehadsomeflowers，andtheirleaves，lyingnearheronalittletable，and，withcoloredsilks，chenille，etc。，sheimitatedeachfloweranditsleafveryadroitlywithoutapattern。Thiswasclever，and，indeed，ratherararetalent；butsheloweredherheadoverthisworkwithademure，beamingcomplacencyembroideryaloneneveryetexcitedwithoutexternalassistance。Accordingly，onalargestool，orlittleottoman，atherfeet，butatarespectfuldistance，satayoungman，almosthermatchinbeauty，thoughinquiteanotherstyle。Inheightaboutfivefeetten，broad-shouldered，clean-built，amodelofstrength，agility，andgrace。
Hisfacefair，fresh，andhealthy-looking；hislargeeyeshazel；thecrispcurlinghaironhisshapelyheadawonderfulbrowninthemass，butwithonethinstreakofgoldabovetheforehead，andalltheloosehairsglitteringgolden。Ashortclippedmustachesavedhimfromlookingtoofeminine，yetdidnothidehisexpressivemouth。Hehadwhitehands，assoftandsuppleasawoman\'s，amellowvoice，andawinningtongue。ThisdangerousyounggentlemanwasgazingsoftlyonZoeVizardandpurringinherear；andshewasconsciousofhisgazewithoutlookingathim，andwassippingthehoney，andshowedit，byseemingmoreabsorbedinherworkthangirlseverreallyare。
Matters，however，hadnotgoneopenlyveryfar。Shewasstillonherdefense:so，afterimbibinghisflatteriesdemurelyalongtime，shediscovered，allinonemoment，thattheywereobjectionable。\"Dearme，Mr。Severne，\"saidshe，\"youdonothingbutpaycompliments。\"
\"HowcanIhelpit，sittinghere?\"inquiredhe。
\"There——there，\"saidshe:then，quietly，\"Doesitneveroccurtoyouthatonlyfoolishpeoplearepleasedwithflatteries?\"
\"Ihaveheardthat；butIdon\'tbelieveit。Iknowitmakesmeawfullyhappywheneveryousayakindwordofme。\"
\"Thatisfarfromprovingyourwisdom，\"saidZoe；\"and，insteadofdwellingonmyperfections，whichdonotexist，Iwishyouwould_tell_
methings。\"
\"Whatthings?\"
\"HowcanItelltillIhearthem?Well，then，thingsaboutyourself。\"
\"Thatisapoorsubject。\"
\"Letmebethejudge。\"
\"Oh，therearelotsoffellowswhoarealwaystalkingaboutthemselves:
letmebeanexception。\"
ThisanswerpuzzledZoe，andshewassilent，andputonacoldlook。Shewasnotaccustomedtoberefusedanythingreasonable。
Severneexaminedherclosely，andsawhewasexpectedtoobeyher。Hethenresolvedtoprepare，inadayortwo，anautobiographyfullofdetailsthatshouldsatisfyZoe\'scuriosity，andwinheradmirationandherlove。Buthecouldnotdoitallinamoment，becausehismemoryofhisreallifeobstructedhisfancy。Meantimeheoperatedadiversion。Hesaid，\"Setapoorfellowanexample。Tellmesomethingabout_yourself——_sinceIhavethebadtaste，andthepresumption，tobeinterestedinyou，andcan\'thelpit。DidyouspringfromthefoamoftheArchipelago?orareyoudescendedfromBacchusandAriadne?\"
\"Ifyouwantsensibleanswers，asksensiblequestions，\"saidZoe，tryingtofrownhimdownwithherblackbrows；buthersweetcheekwouldtintitself，andhersweetmouthsmileandexposemuchintercoralivory。
\"Well，then，\"saidhe，\"Iwillaskyouaprosaicquestion，andIonlyhopeyouwon\'tthinkitimpertinent。How——ever——didsuchastrangelyassortedpartyasyourscometotraveltogether?AndifVizardhasturnedwoman-hater，ashepretends，howcomeshetobeattheheadofafemalepartywhoarenot_all_ofthem——\"hehesitated。
\"Goon，Mr。Severne；notallofthemwhat?\"saidZoe，preparedtostandupforhersex。
\"Notperfect?\"
\"Thatisaverycautiousstatement，and——there——youareasslipperyasaneel；thereisnogettingholdofyou。Well，nevermind，Iwillsetyouanexampleofcommunicativeness，andrevealthismysteryhiddenasyetfrommankind。\"
\"Speak，dreadqueen；thyservantheareth。\"
\"Ha!ha!ha!Mr。Severne，youamuse_me。\"_
\"Youonlyinterest_me，\"_wasthesoftreply。
Zoeblushedpink，butturneditoff。\"Thenwhydoyounotattendtomyinterestingnarrative，insteadof——Well，then，itbeganwithmyaskingthedearfellowtotakemeatour，especiallytoRome。\"
\"Youwantedtoseethestatuesofyourancestors，andshamethem。\"
\"Muchobliged；Iwasnotquitesuchagoose。IwantedtoseetheTiber，andtheColosseum，andTrajan\'sPillar，andtheTarpeianRock，andtheoneeverlastingcitythatbindsancientandmodernhistorytogether。\"
Sheflashedhergreateyesonhim，andhewasdumb。Shehadrisenabovetheregionofhisideas。Havingsilencedhercommentator，shereturnedtoherstory，\"Well，dearHarringtonsaid\'yes\'directly。SothenItoldFanny，andshesaid，\'Oh，dotakemewithyou?\'Now，ofcourseIwasonlytoogladtohaveFanny；sheismyrelation，andmyfriend。\"
\"Happygirl!\"
\"Bequiet，please。SoIaskedHarringtontoletmehaveFannywithus，andyoushouldhaveseenhisface。What，hetravelwithacoupleofus!
He——Idon\'tseewhyIshouldtellyouwhatthemonstersaid。\"
\"Oh，yes，pleasedo。\"
\"Youwon\'tgotellinganybodyelse，then?\"
\"Notalivingsoul，uponmyhonor。\"
\"Well，then，\"hesaid——shebegantoblushlikearose——\"thathelookedonmeasamerefemaleinembryo；Ihadnotyetdevelopedthevicesofmysex。ButFannyDoverwasaripeflirt，andshewouldsetmeflirting，andhowcouldhemanagethepair?Inshort，sir，herefusedtotakeus，andgavehisreasons，suchastheywere，poordear!ThenIhadtotellFanny。
Thenshebegantocry，andtoldmetogowithouther。ButIwouldnotdothat，whenIhadonceaskedher。Thensheclungroundmyneck，andkissedme，andbeggedmetobecrossandsullen，andtireoutdearHarrington。\"
\"Thatislikeher。\"
\"Howdoyouknow?\"saidZoesharply。
\"Oh，Ihavestudiedhercharacter。\"
\"When，pray?\"saidZoe，ironically，yetblushingalittle，becausehersecretmeaningwas，\"Youarealwaysatmyapronstrings，andhavenotimetofathomFanny。\"
\"WhenIhavenothingbettertodo——whenyouareoutoftheroom。\"
\"Well，Ishallbeoutoftheroomverysoon，ifyousayanotherword。\"
\"Andservemeright，too。Iamafooltotalkwhenyouallowmetolisten。\"
\"Heisincorrigible!\"saidZoe，pathetically。\"Well，then，IrefusedtopoutatHarrington。Itisnotasifhehadnoreasontodistrustwomen，poordeardarling。IinvitedFannytostayamonthwithus；and，whenonceshewasinthehouse，shesoongotoverme，andpersuadedmetoplaysad，andshowedmehowtodoit。Soweworelongfaces，andsweetresignation，andwerenevercross，butkeptturningtearfuleyesuponourvictim。\"
\"Ha!ha!HowabsurdofVizardtotellyouthattwowomenwouldbetoomuchforoneman。\"
\"No，itwasthetruth；andgirlsareartfulcreatures，especiallywhentheyputtheirheadstogether。Butheartheendofallourcunning。Oneday，afterdinner，Harringtonaskedustositoppositehim；sowedid，andfeltguilty。Hesurveyedusinsilencealittlewhile，andthenhesaid，\'Myyoungfriends，youhaveplayedyourlittlegameprettywell，especiallyyou，Zoe，thatareanoviceinthefineartscomparedwithMissDover。\'Histrionictalentoughttoberewarded；hewouldrelent，andtakeusabroad，ononecondition:theremustbeachaperone。\'Allthebetter，\'saidwehypocrites，eagerly；\'andwho?\'\"
\"\'Oh，apersonequaltotheoccasion——anoldmaidasbitteragainstmenasevergrapesweresour。Shewouldfollowusupstairs，downstairs，andintomylady\'schamber。Shewouldhaveaneyeatthekey-holebyday，andanearbynight，whenwewentuptobedandtalkedovertheeventsofourfrivolousday。\'Inshort，heenumeratedourduenna\'sperfectionstillourbloodrancold；anditwaseversolongbeforehewouldtelluswhoitwas——AuntMaitland。Wescreamedwithsurprise。Theyarelikecatanddog，andneveragree，excepttodiffer。Wesoughtanexplanationofthisstrangechoice。Heobligedus。Itwasnotforhisgratificationhetooktheoldcat；itwasforus。Shewouldrelievehimofavastresponsibility。Thevicesofhercharacterwouldprovetoostrongforthelittlefaultsofours，whichwereonlyvolatility，frivolity，flirtation——Iwill_not_tellyouwhathesaid。\"
\"IseemtohearHarringtontalking，\"saidSeverne。\"Whatonearthmakeshimsoharduponwomen?Wouldyoumindtellingmethat?\"
\"Neveraskmethatquestionagain，\"saidZoe，withsuddengravity。
\"Well，Iwon\'t；I\'llgetitoutofhim。\"
\"Ifyousayawordtohimaboutit，Ishallbeshockedandoffended。\"
Shewaspaleandredbyturns；butSevernebowedhisheadwitharespectfulsubmissionthatdisarmedherdirectly。Sheturnedherheadaway，andSeverne，watchingher，sawhereyesfill。
\"Howisit，\"saidshethoughtfully，andlookingawayfromhim，\"thatmenleaveouttheirsisterswhentheysumupwomankind?Arenotwewomentoo?
Mypoorbrotherquiteforgetshehasonewomanwhowillnever，neverdesertnordeceivehim；dear，darlingfellow!\"andwiththesethreelastwordssheroseandkissedthetipsofherfingers，andwavedthekisstoVizardwiththatfreemagnitudeofgesturewhichbelongedtoantiquity:
itstrucktheAnglo-Saxonflirtatherfeetwithamazement。Nothavinggoodenoughunderhisskintosympathizewiththatpiousimpulse，hefirststagnatedalittlewhile；andthen，nottobesilentaltogether，madehislittle，stale，commonplacecommentonwhatshehadtoldhim。
\"Why，itislikeanovel。\"
\"Averyunromanticone，\"repliedZoe。
\"Idon\'tknowthat。Ihavereadveryinterestingnovelswithfewernewcharactersthanthis:there\'sadarkbeauty，andafair，andaduennawithaneagleeyeandanaquilinenose。\"
\"Hush!\"saidZoe:\"thatisherroom；\"andpointedtoachamberdoorthatopenedintotheapartment。
Oh，marvelousfemaleinstinct!Theduennainchargewasatthatmomentbehindthatverydoor，andhereyeandherearatthekey-hole，turnabout。
Severnecontinuedhisremarks，butinalowervoice。
\"Thenthere\'sawoman-haterandaman-hater:goodfordialogue。\"
NowthisbanterdidnotpleaseZoe；soshefixedhereyesuponSeverne，andsaid，\"Youforgettheprincipalfigure——amysteriousyounggentlemanwholooksnineteen，andistwenty-nine，andwaslostsightofinEnglandnineyearsago。Hehasbeentravelingeversince，andwhere-everhewentheflirted；wegathersomuchfromhisaccomplishmentintheart；fluent，nottosayvolubleattimes，butnoegotist，forhenevertellsyouanythingabouthimself，norevenabouthisfamily，stilllessaboutthenumerous_affairesdecoeur_inwhichhehasbeenengaged。Perhapsheisreservingitallforthethirdvolume。\"
Theattackwasstrongandsudden，butitfailed。Severne，withinthelimitsofhisexperience，wasaconsummateartist，andthissituationwasnotnewtohim。Hecastonegentlyreproachfulglanceonher，thenloweredhiseyestothecarpet，andkeptthemthere。\"Doyouthink，\"saidhe，inalow，dejectedvoice，\"itcanbeanypleasuretoamantorelatethefolliesofanidle，aimlesslife?andtoyou，whohavegivenmehigheraspirations，andmademeawfullysorry，Icannotlivemywholelifeoveragain。Ican\'tbeartothinkoftheyearsIhavewasted，\"saidhe；\"andhowcanItalktoyou，whomIreverence，ofthepastfolliesI
despise?No，praydon\'taskmetoriskyouresteem。Itissodeartome。\"
Thenthisartistputinpracticealittlemaneuverhehadlearnedofcompressinghismusclesandforcingalittleunwillingwaterintohiseyes。So，attheendofhisprettylittlespeech，heraisedtwogentle，imploringeyes，withhalfatearineachofthem。Tobesure，Natureassistedhisartforonce；hedidbitterlyregret，butoutofpureegotism，theyearshehadwasted，andwishedwithallhishearthehadneverknownanywomanbutZoeVizard。
ThecombinationofartandsinceritywastoomuchfortheguilelessandinexperiencedZoe。Shewasgrievedatthepainshehadgiven，androsetoretire，forshefelttheywerebothondangerousground；but，assheturnedaway，shemadealittle，deprecatinggesture，andsaid，softly，\"Forgiveme。\"
ThatsofttonegaveSevernecourage，andthatgesturegavehimanopportunity。Heseizedherhand，murmured，\"Angelofgoodness!\"andbestowedalong，lovingkissonherhandthatmadeitquiverunderhislips。
\"Oh!\"criedMissMaitland，burstingintotheroomatthenickoftime，yetfeigningamazement。
Fannyheardtheejaculations，andwhippedawayfromHarringtonintothewindow。Zoe，withnomotivebutherowncoyness，hadalreadysnatchedherhandawayfromSeverne。
Butbothyoungladieswereonemomenttoolate。Theeagleeyeofaterribleoldmaidhadembracedtheentiresituation，andtheysawithad。
HarringtonVizard，Esq。，smokedon，withhisbacktothegroup。Buttherestwereapicture——themutinousfaceandkeeneyesofFannyDover，bristlingwithdefense，atthewindow；Zoeblushingcrimson，andnewlystartedawayfromhertoo-enterprisingwooer；andthetall，thin，grimoldmaid，standingstiff，assentinel，atthebedroomdoor，andgimletingbothherchargesalternatelywithsteel-grayorbs；sheseemedlikeanowl，alleyesandbeak。
Whenthechaperonhadfixedthesituationthoroughly，shestalkederectintotheroom，andsaid，veryexpressively，\"IamafraidIdisturbyou。\"
Zoe，fromcrimson，blushedscarlet，andhungherhead；butFannywasready。
\"La!aunt，\"saidshe，ironically，andwithpertnessinfinite，\"youknowyouarealwayswelcome。Whereeverhaveyoubeenallthistime?Wewereafraidwehadlostyou。\"
Auntfiredherpistolinreply:\"Iwasnotfaroff——mostfortunately。\"
Zoe，findingthat，evenundercrushingcircumstances，Fannyhadfightinher，glidedinstantlytoherside，andAuntMaitlandopenedbattleallround。
\"MayIask，sir，\"saidshetoSeverne，withahorriblesmile，\"whatyouweredoingwhenIcamein?\"
ZoeclutchedFanny，andbothawaitedMr。Severne\'sreplyforonemomentwithkeenanxiety。
\"MydearMissMaitland，\"saidthatableyoungman，veryrespectfully，yetwithasortofcheerfulreadiness，asifheweredelightedatherdeigningtoquestionhim，\"totellyouthetruth，IwasadmiringMissVizard\'sdiamondring。\"
Fannytittered；Zoeblushedagainatsuchafibandsuch_aplomb。_
\"Oh，indeed，\"saidMissMaitland；\"youwereadmiringitveryclose，sir。\"
\"Itislikeherself——itwillbearinspection。\"
ThiswaswormwoodtoMissMaitland。\"Eveninourasheslivetheirwontedfires；\"and，thoughshewassixty，shedislikedtohearayoungwomanpraised。Shebridled，thenreturnedtotheattack。
\"Nexttimeyouwishtoinspectit，youhadbetteraskher_totakeitoff，_andshowyou。\"
\"MayI，MissMaitland?\"inquiredtheingenuousyouth。\"Shewouldnotthinkthataliberty?\"
Hismildeffronterystaggeredherforamoment，andsheglaredathim，speechless，butsoonrecovered，andsaid，bitterly，\"Evidently_not。\"_
Withthissheturnedherbackonhimratherungraciously，andopenedfireonherownsex。
\"Zoe!\"sharply。
\"Yes，aunt\"faintly。
\"Tellyourbrother——ifhecanleaveoffsmoking——Iwishtospeaktohim。\"
Zoehungherhead，andwasinnohurrytobringabouttheproposedconference。
Whileshedeliberated，saysFanny，withvastalacrity，\"I\'lltellhim，aunt。\"
\"Oh，Fanny!\"murmuredZoe，inareproachfulwhisper。
\"Allright!\"whisperedFannyinreply，andwhippedoutontothebalcony。
\"Here\'sAuntMaitlandwantstoknowifyoueverleaveoffsmoking；\"andshethrewamostaggressivemannerintothequery。
Thebigmanreplied，composedly，\"TellherIdo——atmealsandprayers；
butIalways_sleep_withapipeinmymouth——heavilyinsured!\"
\"Well，then，youmustn\'t；forshehassomethingveryparticulartosaytoyouwhenyou\'vedonesmoking。\"
\"Somethingparticular!Thatmeanssomethingdisagreeable。TellherI
shallbesmokingalldayto-day。\"
Fannydancedintotheroomandsaid，\"Hesaysheshallbesmokingallday，_underthecircumstances。\"_
MissMaitlandgavethisfaithfulmessengerthelookofabasilisk，andflouncedtoherownroom。Theyoungladiesinstantlysteppedoutonthebalcony，andgotoneoneachsideofHarrington，withthefeminineinstinctofpropitiation；fortheyfeltsuretheenemywouldtell，soonorlate。
\"Whatdoestheoldcatwanttotalktomeabout?\"saidHarrington，lazily，toFanny。
ItwasZoewhoreplied:
\"Can\'tyouguess，dear?\"saidshe，tenderly——\"ourmisconduct。\"Thensheputherheadonhisshoulder，asmuchastosay，\"Butwehaveamorelenientjudgehere。\"
\"AsifIcouldnotsee_that_withoutherassistance!\"saidHarringtonVizard。Puff!AtwhichcomfortablereplyZoelookedveryrueful，andFannyburstoutlaughing。
SoonafterthisFannygaveZoealook，andtheyretiredtotheirrooms；
andZoesaidshewouldnevercomeoutagain，andFannymuststaywithher。Fannyfeltsure_ennui_wouldthawthatresolveinafewhours；soshesubmitted，butdeclareditwasabsurd，andtheverywaytogiveaperfecttrifleimportance。
\"Kissyourhand!\"saidshe，disdainfully——\"thatisnothing。IfIwastheman，I\'dhavekissedbothyourcheekslongbeforethis。\"
\"AndIshouldhaveboxedyourearsandmadeyoucry，\"saidZoe，withcalmsuperiority。
Soshehadherway，andthedesertedSevernefeltdull，butwastoogoodageneraltoshowit。HebestowedhiswelcomecompanyonMr。Vizard，walkedwithhim，talkedwithhim，andmadehimselfsoagreeable，thatVizard，whoadmiredhimgreatly，saidtohim，\"Whatagoodfellowyouare，tobestowyoursunshineonme。Ibegantobeafraidthosegirlshadgotyou，andtiedyoutotheirapron-stringsaltogether。\"
\"Oh，no!\"saidSeverne:\"theyarecharming；but，afterall，onecan\'tdowithoutamalefriend:therearesofewthingsthatinterestladies。
Unlessyoucantalkred-hotreligion，youareboundtoflirtwiththemalittle。Tobesure，theylookshy，ifyoudo，butifyoudon\'t——\"
\"They_are_bored；whereastheyonly_looked_shy。Iknow\'em。Callanothersubject，please。\"
\"Well，Iwill；butperhapsitmaynotbesoagreeableaone。\"
\"Thatisveryunlikely，\"saidthewoman-hater，dryly。
\"Well，itisTin。I\'mrathershort。Yousee，whenIfellinwithyouatMonaco，Ihadnoideaofcomingthisway；but，meetingwithanoldcollegefriend——whatatiecollegeis，isn\'tit?Thereisnothinglikeit；whenyouhavebeenatcollegewithaman，youseemnevertowearhimout，asyoudotheacquaintancesyoumakeafterward。\"
\"Thatisverytrue，\"saidVizardwarmly。
\"Isn\'tit?Now，forinstance，ifIhadonlyknownyouoflateyears，I
shouldfeelawfullyshyofborrowingafewhundredsofyou——foramonthortwo。\"
\"Idon\'tknowwhyyoushould，oldfellow。\"
\"Ishould，though。Buthavingbeenatcollegetogethermakesallthedifference。Idon\'tmindtellingyouthatIhaveneverbeenatHomburgwithouttakingaturnatthetable，andIamgrizzlingawfullynowatnothavingsenttomymanofbusinessforfunds。\"
\"Howmuchdoyouwant?Thatistheonlyquestion。\"
\"Gladtohearit，\"thoughtSeverne。\"Well，letmesee，youcan\'tbackyourluckwithlessthanfivehundred。\"
\"Well，butwehavebeenouttwomonths；IamafraidIhaven\'tsomuchleft。Justletmesee。\"Hetookouthispocket-book，andexaminedhisletterofcredit。\"Doyouwantitto-day?\"
\"Why，yes；Ido。\"
\"Well，then，Iamafraidyoucanonlyhavethreehundred。ButIwilltelegraphHerries，andfundswillbehereto-morrowafternoon。\"
\"Allright，\"saidSeverne。
Vizardtookhimtothebank，andexhaustedhisletterofcredit:thentothetelegraph-office，andtelegraphedHerriestoenlargehiscreditatonce。HehandedSevernethethreehundredpounds。Theyoungman\'seyeflashed，anditcosthimaneffortnottosnatchthemandwavethemoverhisheadwithjoy:buthecontrolledhimself，andtookthemliketwo-pence-halfpenny。\"Thankyou，oldfellow，\"saidhe。Then，stillmorecarelessly，\"LikemyIOU?\"
\"Asyouplease，\"saidVizard，withsimilarindifference；onlyreal。
Afterhehadgotthemoney，Severne\'sconversationalpowersrelaxed——shortanswers——longreveries。
Vizardobserved，stoppedshort，andeyedhim。\"IremembersomethingatOxford，andIamafraidyouareagambler；ifyouare，youwon\'tbegoodformuchtillyouhavelostthatthreehundred。Itwillbeadulleveningformewithoutyou:IknowwhatI\'lldo——I\'lltakemyhen-partytotheoperaatHomburg。Therearestallstobegothere。I\'llgetoneforyou，onthechanceofyourdroppingin。\"
Thestallswerepurchased，andthefriendsreturnedatoncetothehotel，togivetheladiestimelyintimation。TheyfoundFannyandZoeseated，ratherdisconsolate，intheapartmentZoehadformallyrenounced:atsightofthestalltickets，thepairutteredjoyfulcries，lookedateachother，andvanished。
\"Youwon\'tsee_them_anymoretilldinner-time，\"saidVizard。\"Theywillbediscussingdress，selectingdress，tryingdresses，andchangingdresses，forthenextthreehours。\"Heturnedroundwhilespeaking，andtherewasSeverneslippingawaytohisownbedroom。
Thusdesertedonallsides，hesteppedintothebalconyandlightedacigar。Whilehewassmokingit，heobservedanEnglishgentleman，withastalwartfigureandabeautifulbrownbeard，standingonthestepsofthehotel。\"Halloo!\"saidhe，andhailedhim。\"Hi，Uxmoor!isthatyou?\"
LordUxmoorlookedup，andknewhim。Heenteredthehotel，andthenextminutethewaiterusheredhimintoVizard\'ssitting-room。
LordUxmoor，likeMr。Vizard，wasalandedproprietorinBarfordshire。
Thecountyislarge，andtheylivedtoomanymilesaparttovisit；buttheymet，andagreed，atelectionsandcountybusiness，andhadarespectforeachother。
MeetingatFrankfort，thesetwofoundplentytosaytoeachotherabouthome；andasLordUxmoorwasalone，Vizardaskedhimtodine。\"Youwillbalanceus，\"saidhe:\"weareterriblyoverpetticoated，andoneofthemisanoldmaid。Wegenerallydineatthe_table-d\'hote，_butIhaveordereddinner_here_to-day:wearegoingtotheoperaatHomburg。Youarenotobligedtodothat，youknow。Youareinforabaddinner，thatisall。\"
\"Totellthetruth，\"saidLordUxmoor，\"Idon\'tcareformusic。\"
\"Thenyoudeserveastatuefornotpretendingtoloveit。Iadoreit，formypart，andIwishIwasgoingalone，formyhenswillbesuretocackle_mal\'apropos，_andspoilsomefamousmelodywithtalkingaboutit，andwhosungitinLondon，insteadoflisteningtoit，andthankingGodforitindeepsilence。\"
LordUxmoorstaredalittleatthissuddensally，forhewasunacquaintedwithVizard\'soneeccentricity，havingmethimonlyoncountybusiness，atwhichhewasextrarational，andpassedforagreatscholar。Hereallydidsuckgoodbooksaswellascigars。
Afterafewmorewords，theypartedtilldinner-time。
LordUxmoorcametohisappointment，andfoundhishostandMissMaitland，whomheknew；andhewasinlanguidconversationwiththem，whenaside-dooropened，andinwalkedFannyDover，fairandbright，inCambridgeblue，herhairwelldressedbyZoe\'smaidinthestyleoftheday。LordUxmoorrose，andreceivedhisfaircountry-womanwithrespectfulzeal；hehadmetheroncebefore。She，too，sparkledwithpleasureatmeetingaBarfordshiresquirewithalongpedigree，purse，andbeard——threethingssheadmiredgreatly。
Inthemidstofthis，inglidedZoe，andseemedtoextinguisheverybody，andeventopalethelights，withherdarkyetsunlikebeauty。Shewasdressedinacreamy-whitesatinthatglintedlikemother-of-pearl，itssheenandgloryunfritteredwithasingleidiotictrimming；onherbreastalargediamondcross。HerheadwasanAtheniansculpture——nochignon，butthetightcoilsofantiquity；attheirside，onediamondstarsparkledvividflame，byitscontrastwiththosepolishedebonsnakes。
LordUxmoorwasdazzled，transfixed，atthevision，andbowedverylowwhenVizardintroducedhiminanoff-handway，saying，\"Mysister，MissVizard；butIdaresayyouhavemetheratthecountyballs。\"
\"Ihaveneverbeensofortunate，\"saidUxmoor，humbly。
\"Ihave，\"saidZoe；\"thatis，IsawyouwaltzingwithLadyBettyGoreattheraceballtwoyearsago。\"
\"What!\"saidVizard，alarmed。\"Uxmoor，wereyouwaltzingwithLadyBettyGore?\"
\"Youhaveitontoohighanauthorityformetocontradict。\"
FindingZoewastobetrustedasacountychronicle，Vizardturnedsharplytoher，andsaid，\"Andwasheflirtingwithher?\"
Zoecoloredalittle，andsaid，\"Now，Harrington，howcanItell?\"
\"Youlittlehypocrite，\"saidVizard，\"whocantellbetter?
AtthisretortZoeblushedhigh，andthewatercameintohereyes。
NobodymindedthatbutUxmoor，andVizardwentontoexplain，\"ThatLadyBettyGoreisasheartlessacoquetteasanyinthecounty；anddon\'tyouflirtwithher，oryouwillgetentangled。\"
\"Youdisapproveher，\"saidUxmoor，coolly；\"thenIgiveherupforever。\"
HelookedatZoewhilehesaidthis，andfelthoweasyitwouldbetoresignLadyBettyandagreatmanymoreforthispeerlesscreature。Hedidnotmeanhertounderstandwhatwaspassinginhismind；hedidnotknowhowsubtleandobservantthemostinnocentgirlisinsuchmatters。
Zoeblushed，anddrewawayfromhim。JustthenNedSevernecamein，andVizardintroducedhimtoUxmoorwithgreatgenialityandpride。Thecharmingyoungmanwasinablacksurtout，withabluescarf，theverytintforhiscomplexion。
Thegirlslookedatoneanother，andinamomentFannywaselectedZoe\'sagent。ShesignaledSeverne，andwhenhecametohershesaid，forZoe，\"Don\'tyouknowwearegoingtotheoperaatHomburg?\"
\"Yes，Iknow，\"saidhe，\"andIhopeyouwillhaveapleasantereveningthanIshall。\"
\"Youarenotcomingwithus?\"
\"No，\"saidhe，sorrowfully。
\"Youhadbetter，\"saidFanny，withadealofquietpoint，more，indeed，thanZoe\'sprideapproved。
\"NotifMr。Severnehassomethingmoreattractive，\"saidshe，turningpalishandpinkishbyturns。
Allthiswenton_sottovoce，_andUxmoor，outofgood-breeding，enteredintoconversationwithMissMaitlandandVizard。Severneavailedhimselfofthisdiversion，andfixedhiseyesonZoewithanairofgentlereproach，thentookaletteroutofhispocket，andhandedittoFanny。
Shereadit，andgaveittoZoe。
Itwasdatedfrom\"TheGoldenStar，\"Homburg。
\"DEARNED——Iamworseto-day，andallalone。NowandthenIalmostfearI
maynotpullthrough。Butperhapsthatisthroughbeingsohipped。Docomeandspendthiseveningwithmelikeagood，kindfellow。
\"Telegraphreply。