The Rake's Progress

tall red pots was so strong that my lor

g," he said, and linger

ding door standing open into the next chamber might be seen Miss Chressham seated at he

under the very same roof. These four were so much the same as they had always been. The lazy luxury of Lyndwoo

he elegant melody of the harp sounded delicately in keeping with the

t themselves, perhaps, better friends than they had been since they were boys. Rose was pleased that he had made his

that darkened his face on his arrival had lifted; he was a little flushed, and

d Rose mentioned her. Susannah and Marius had been silent about her, too,

pale-pink silk he wore caught the light an

ugh a certain magnificence of bearing about the Earl had always held him in awe; but to-night, as he gazed up at the proud expressive countenance of Rose, he was almost startled by the ext

staste. Contemplation of his brother's splendour gave him an alien feeling.

ord

think of goin

as you pl

ing to take up your commission so

l, to-

ndwood

ady?" he s

s col

oathed speaking of this to his brother. "She has not written to me, but I hardly

charming sm

d you ca

Marius, staring

ons! Well, September is not so far. Yo

us r

esitated, then said awkwardly: "Give my duty to

eless distance between them, and as Marius turned to leave t

eone," the Countess Agatha was

o ye broach?"

er harp, but his mot

inia," she said. "I could swe

ood, "is not uncommon. And now

elf at the great desk between the bookshelves, where my lad

nd fell into a happy musing. The future was good to dwell on. The colour crept into his cheeks

air, with fresh, untaught lips, one hand slackly holding the quill, the other hanging by his side, grey silk

e door open

ed the quill

rd? I have not even

nd remained in that attitude,

lose purple gown was undone at the throat. Her co

a!" sai

he answer

, still sta

ed, and blenched as

ame n

ut her hand to her forehead, and pushed back the damp dark hair. "I have been watching

ed and straigh

"You are Aspasia-

t of nothing else for two months. I knew he was your brothe

egan to understand what she was saying, what her presence here, in

," he said stupidly. "Yo

d in a feve

he would send me to Bedlam." She dropped into the chair that stood stiffly agai

ld hands in his, as he had once held them, gloved and war

and now are Rose's wife?" he said,

, and her slim bosom panted d

-and now it is done." A look of hopelessness came over her counte

before them all. Oh, Marius! Marius!" She ended in a

er. She seemed so much older, so much whiter and h

; then she laughed. "I

stepp

mechanically laid hold of his sword h

vinia cowered a

to leave the house at once-to go away. With

had at first stunned him began to give way

ce, his eyes. "How dared you become

title, and so he must take me, hating me as I hate him-and your brother!" She stood to her full h

ickly, and made for the door. Bu

fore anyone discovers." She lowered her voice and glanced furtively as if knowing herself in the house of stra

aid. This was not Aspasia of the Luxembourg g

Rose," he rep

alert. She knew Rose was only a few yards away, he and his two kinswomen; she

ve her husband neither his name nor his title. She beat the fingers of her left

r wedding-ring, the o

t had been beautiful; now this woman said, "I am Aspasia," and the delicate fabric of the romance was shattered. Soft words with a fair stranger beneath the fluttering leaves was another matter to this scene with Ros

de, was sharpl

all. Well, you gave me reason to think so.

ied. "But you-what ha

ok settled in h

. It was not to be avoided-in any way escaped. I also

ius that she put

said, with pale lips. "He did

e likely to have listen

the Earl'

Heaven, he meant we should not be hampered for lack of this money! For himse

n and tangle showed itself more clear

nia caught up his

ng nor such a fool, though maybe they thought so. But do

hat in my face!

our f

ered with a great flush, "

h eyes expr

d you. He hath the

say it was for me and my visionary lov

ountess hysterically. "Is that how ye

ch it had been and how the last few moments had changed ev

s. There was a goading note in her voice that

lord," he ans

l not te

e muttered.

you leave us our secret? Will you

s despairing

my lord's

to the other side of the table. "Marius," she said eagerly, "think of

hen last they met; he did no

of me?" he said

oled enough-yet." She paused a second, and he looked away from her, supporting

of his mother and his cousin-she, a stranger in the house, Mr. H

went on quickly, "under c

that, then. It brou

Countess of Lyn

ed painfully, her large

to what you and I feel for ea

of that feeling," he answered fearfully.

a shaking han

an you no l

ment as if he

ant me to

thing else worth living for. Do you think it has been

h at her harp, of my lady with the open book on her knee, of my lord listening to the music, as

ngely?" asked the Countess. "C

-to have it all secret, hidden away, conc

raightene

l go,

not sa

hat?" s

wildly. "In what manner s

patient turn a

m I to tell you all you are to

the past. You, not I, h

rent. Would to God ye had told me then it was a mere M

sperate step

pas

d swiftly

in a shaking voice, "I am

etreating, staring at her appeali

ose Lyndwood entered t