Part 31 (1/2)

”Did you not see? He never once looked at me. He could not. I am sick at heart.”

This set f.a.n.n.y fluttering. ”There, let me out to speak to him.”

”Sit quiet,” said Zoe, sternly.

”No; no. If you love him--”

”I do love him--pa.s.sionately. And _therefore_ I'll die rather than share him with any one.”

”But it is dreadful to be fixed here, and not allowed to move hand or foot.”

”It is the lot of women. Let me feel the hand of a friend, that is all; for I am sick at heart.”

f.a.n.n.y gave her her hand, and all the sympathy her shallow nature had to bestow.

Zoe sat motionless, gripping her friend's hand almost convulsively, a statue of female fort.i.tude.

This suspense could not last long. The officials ordered the travelers to the carriages; doors were opened and slammed; the engine gave a snort, and only at that moment did Mr. Edward Severne tear the door open and bolt into the carriage.

Oh, it was pitiable, but lovely, to see the blood rush into Zoe's face, and the fire into her eye, and the sweet mouth expand in a smile of joy and triumph!

She sat a moment, almost paralyzed with pleasure, and then cast her eyes down, lest their fire should proclaim her feelings too plainly.

As for Severne, he only glanced at her as he came in, and then shunned her eye. He presented to her the grave, resolved countenance of a man who has been forced to a decision, but means to abide by it.

In reality he was delighted at the turn things had taken. The money was not necessarily lost, since he knew where it was; and Zoe had compromised herself beyond retreating. He intended to wear this anxious face a long while. But his artificial snow had to melt, so real a sun shone full on it. The moment he looked full at Zoe, she repaid him with such a point-blank beam of glorious tenderness and grat.i.tude as made him thrill with pa.s.sion as well as triumph. He felt her whole heart was his, and from that hour his poverty would never be allowed to weigh with her. He cleared up, and left off acting, because it was superfluous; he had now only to bask in suns.h.i.+ne. Zoe, always tender, but coy till this moment, made love to him like a young G.o.ddess. Even f.a.n.n.y yielded to the solid proof of sincerity he had given, and was downright affectionate.

He was king. And from one gradation to another, they entered Cologne with Severne seated between the two girls, each with a hand in his, and a great disposition to pet him and spoil him; more than once, indeed, a delicate head just grazed each of his square shoulders; but candor compels me to own that their fatigue and the yawing of the carriage at the time were more to blame than the tired girls; for at the enormity there was a prompt retirement to a distance. Miss Maitland had been a long time in the land of Nod; and Vizard, from the first, had preferred male companions and tobacco.

At Cologne they visited the pride of Germany, that mighty cathedral which the Middle Ages projected, commenced, and left to decay of old age before completion, and our enterprising age will finish; but they departed on the same day.

Before they reached England, the love-making between Severne and Zoe, though it never pa.s.sed the bounds of good taste, was so apparent to any female eye that Miss Maitland remonstrated severely with f.a.n.n.y.

But the trimmer was now won to the other side. She would not offend Aunt Maitland by owning her conversion. She said, hypocritically, ”I am afraid it is no use objecting at present, aunt. The attachment is too strong on both sides. And, whether he is poor or not, he has sacrificed his money to her feelings, and so, now, she feels bound in honor. I know her; she won't listen to a word now, aunt: why irritate her? She would quarrel with both of us in a moment.”

”Poor girl!” said Miss Maitland; and took the hint. She had still an arrow in her quiver--Vizard.

In mid-channel, ten miles south of Dover, she caught him in a lucid interval of non-smoke. She reminded, him he had promised her to give Mr.

Severne a hint about Zoe.

”So I did,” said he.

”And have you?”

”Well, no; to tell the truth, I forgot.”

”Then please do it now; for they are going on worse than ever.”

”I'll warn the fool,” said he.

He did warn him, and in the following terms: