The Rake's Progress

ctions, and when I have a deliberate request to answer I swear my pen refuses its duty. 'Tell me about Rose,' you say. 'Our one meeting

, again, what can I say? I k

at nothing interferes between us but my faltering pen. Aunt Agatha sits in the next room making

than whispers in London.' You imply about R

e I was last in town, six months ago, and then only amid the distractions of a gay season. Laughter passed between us, little else. You will recall the charming laughter o

he sweetest temper, the lightest spirits are to be ruined by the common lu

Remember Rose as all nobility, virtue, and d

es we all live. Hideous subject! Even to you I shrink from putting the word on paper, but I anticipate that this lack of money will mean trouble for both Rose and Marius. The Lyndwoods were ever thriftless. I remember my sweet

n, which seems to me a dreadful thing. Reflecting on it, I think of these two cousins of mine. Imagi

. We had hoped Rose would be here to meet him; but, no. He comes tomorrow, full of eagerness, his note reads, to see us all again

ghts) that Marius visited Genoa and saw the Lyndwood property, which is of but

rius's chamber is ready and the table set with flowers. So au revoir, my f

nah Ch

wood

n the Coun

17, 1

ows rested in the spacious beautiful chamber; smooth dark walls, painted ceiling and polished floor, rich sombre paintings of fruit made a glowing background for the

faint white clouds rested in the pale blue sky; the glade formed by th

d soft clusters of fragrant stocks. A swallow flew by, a great sound of birds came from the trees abo

atha," s

e other chamber. She held a number

shed my letter and am now at your service." Her smile deepened pr

hed her silks out w

ld have been her

essham w

l, and Rose wrote he was under an engagement for to-night

languid impatience attractively in kee

not only because of Marius-for other reaso

sham pulle

reasons?" s

wer came wearily th

had no steward. I wrote to Rose he must come and see after it; he is aware from Mr. Langham when

t does R

of course, an

know that he sold Brenton Farm at half

have someone. Rose should come himself and put a person h

it," said Miss Chressham sadl

ighteen. His fortune is his own concern, and it would be mightily ill-bred of him t

r and began to light the candles. Mi

ad for business

he sconces either side were lit her delicate shoulders and pal

n manage without it. I could never see

ssham loo

as you are," she answer

You must not flat

-light. The lace over her faint blonde hair and over her shoulder seemed pearl-coloured too. She folded

ite fingers. "Rose is heedless, and I really know so little of what he does in London. Of course, I hear things"-she paused, and added placidly-"which, of cours

ed Miss Chressham cheerfully; "nay, it

Miss Chressham's red silk gown as she moved close to the Countess's chair; th

arked the Countess, "mentioned by Rose and othe

r he will not speak of

ndwood

me. Marius will want to s

d Miss Chressham, a faint loo

s has something when he comes of age, which was last October. I am sorry he

" assented Sus

se cannot ask Marius to look after the estate, and really it

ah was

inued her gentle

h Rose. And-la, my dear, 'tis near seven of the clock!" She rose, her

ont and watch for him,

moss roses showed between the glass and silver on the table and the candles in their sconces sent flicke

trees; mysterious and beckoning the white road gleamed away into the twilight; the stone vases at t

and their tendrils, lightly stirring now and then, tou

aintly, then from the stabl

ry tired," sai

ressham

ve ridden from M

m as coming from Paris-as if he had come straight from there"-she laughed aiml

rrow," repeated

then the Count

s it not? though perhaps after

interrupted

of road came the soun

wilight-a slender young man in a travelling cloak was kissing Lady Lyndwood, laughi

as she joined them. "May I stil

ed Miss Chressham;

er hands. The three came t

nd where is Mr. Hardinge? And-oh, Marius-I fear it

wood laughe

ing with the trunks. I left Mr. Hardinge

nswered both the ladies, a

would be here to-night

d Miss Chressham hasti

ff his cloak and hat

His brother must not hope to see h

ladies followed, and there, in the strong fair light

this pause came almost like embarrassment, as

some as the boy who had left her two years ago. The next second she told herself that his powdered hair,

table, took her

l you are, mo

dsome room, with its pleasant appointments, with the figures of young man and woman

room," she said faintly, "a

room?" smi

" nodded

hundred years, my lady, and I hear them with

tings to the servants in the hall, and the agre

ds lay among the glasses on the shining white cloth. The other droo

he has chang

a ma

ndwood

he was never as

sham laugh

the table. "Rose, of course, is-" She suddenly broke off, and her mann

shook her d

woman, my dear, and qui

of roses, violets, and indefinable things of the night; an almost imperceptible breeze caused the candle f

les gave forth long shuddering rays. The white china was painted in pink, the hue of the half-opened moss roses; in the centre of

catch the light in rivalry even of the sparkling crystal and silver. As she moved something fell from her

ned the Countess, liste

I so seldom see her; she is in Bristol w

rned her sweet f

y dear; she was here two seas

"and asks after Rose; she has heard so much of h

oyle's letter-"tell me, I pray you, of your cousin the Earl, who I hear has all the gra

ndwood smil

ather pale, do you not think? And I

ham reminde

on to London, and I expect Marius would not hav

letter (that she had been nerving herself to

straction; Lady Lyndwood, weary with leisure, wo

am did not wish

f thick lace at his throat and a fine pink cameo clasping it-a more animated Marius, a more charming Marius than t

swear," sighed the Countess, still

ever been different from what he was,

became conscious of his modish side curls and all the little fopperies of his

elicately to the rescue, as he took his place opposite her

nice," cried Marius; "are you s

answered. "And did

sweet, the sweetest of all, my l

untess wistfully, "I do n

joyously important. "I shall take you and Susannah to London

ood; then she became rather abruptly silent, since what she

spoke of little home affairs, and drew out Marius to relate again thos

and loving; but whenever he touched on the future, on his bright pl

e terrace and the park, and Marius sat beside the Countess on the long Spanish leather couch; his l

elt curiously averse to speech to-night; in her heart she was sorry-sorry

ir under the powder, wore a proud air of distinction given by the beautiful mouth and arrogant cle

manner, he looked round, and she glanced away and

od rose and c

you are,

she answered; lightly and hurriedly h

ecause of your return, Marius! You would not reme

sed her cle

" he said. "Is she

across her brow by the little breeze from t

er-yes, a dear friend of

ut now at Dover-M

d of

s lau

plained, "and Rose was mentioned; this gentleman had seen him at

untess, rising delicately;

d Miss Chressham, and he

lls, and what a name she had for a belle, and how Rose

was completel

nderstand Selina-she writes from

nth or so ago, mayb

tess. "Rose never spoke of her-and their names c

am put her lette

he while at the moonlit park, "And why should Rose mention it? and a

uttered open a d

we-and one always hears it so

ed from her

discord, my lady; I was foolish to re

hed, clearly

to leave my letters for the night coach, it will be passing soon. Do you remember how we us

, her red gown showed a moment ag

ollowing her, when th

, Marius; Susannah i

figure he looked leaning against the wide man

ad fallen from her blonde curls and lay shimmering about her shoulders

"you are wearing a miniature

t he loosened from his stock the black ribbon hi

the timid placid face of a girl i

meet her, Mar

red, loo

, "she is coming to London this aut

od returned

e very

y; "I do not know her people-we me

had never mentioned to her the name of any woman in this manner

last, under

sent her to me-in the autumn. Now will you

; he would have liked

ype="