The Duke's Children

Romeo If I Fee

r the little dinner-party described in the last chapter, in a small back sitting-room which was sup

down too," said

o tell me what it is you are afraid of? Do you th

N

you stop me? He is in love with somebody else

uld not app

or disapproves, you care for his opinion a great deal more than I do. My cousin is here now to talk to me,-about his own affairs, and I mean to

en together for some minutes, "that you had the

y n

u would dare

well take it wi

ith the young lady I don'

, I should have to ta

ldn't suit

ose comforts and happiness ar

ourse you are t

hly in love,

nth time, I

lf as a monument of constancy, but I thin

ning

espec

one before with you. I say that there has never really been one with me at all. No one knows that better than y

er you are capable of be

till I wish it. Come, Frank; do not quarrel with me. You know,-you ought to know,-that I

self-restraint I

ou are not

wit me with ch

. Can't you forgive a

hink that I have been false bec

g to help you if there were anything I could do.

Romeo, if I fe

But you shall talk to me of yours for Lady Mary, and I will listen to you

r vows wer

of co

ast used t

o you bearded the Duke in his den, and asked him for Lady Mary's hand,-j

the

at did

impossible.-Of course

now? You will

ainly

Lady

aps never answer for anot

feel sure

d

think, can be

The Pallisers a

dge obstinate

ll if he takes it int

't have th

ner, and often finds it easier to be

and both wishing to speak of it. But the words came to her first. "I wonder what he t

do yo

hy

ld have said to me in the confidence of fri

to see and ears to hear. But, though I am n

nt him to

think that I could be a good wife to him I would n

that you love

smiled again and shook his head. "It is as I said before, because you are not a woman, a

ind

e to whom I would say a word. Only think how a girl such as I am is placed; or indeed any girl. You, if you see a woman that you fancy, can pursue her, can win her and triumph, or lose her and gnaw your heart;-at any rate you c

k hard too

. How can she love with passion when she should never give her love till it has been asked, and not then unless her friends tell her that t

love him aft

ome my home, his ambition my ambition,-his honour my honour." As she said this she stood up with her hands clenche

that you wou

him or not, he

that Silverbr

ge would do. You, no doubt, w

t fly high? If I can justify mys

a girl in London to whom Lord Silverbridge would not be the

think twice befo

ng him. Perhaps he wishes to add to his we

As soon as he takes a sufficient fancy to a girl he will ask her straight off. I

ld not change. But then what right have I to

ad he said much I s

s more to you than I am. As his friend it may be your duty

that I shall d

n are so strong in

e more than friends, I will say that it is the more tender. In my

for that

hing of you that can

glad to see me h

somebody's wif

e yours, Fr

s feelings in such a matter? Though I most truly love the girl I hope to marr

all," she

e took her hand, half with the purpose of bidding her good-bye, but partly with the idea of giving some expression

are you doing

talking to

bout a

not know fo

n she said this Frank Tregear turned r

d, is he? Who is th

k he will let

d Frank, gloomily. "The

nable young second-cousin had come there to talk about his marriage with another young wo

Frank wished to speak to me about his own affa

at he need not be afraid of Frank Tregear, and had in a sort of way assented to the young man's visits. "I think he might find something better to do with his time than hangi

say that I wa

he got

e will have a

for her pains," said the

rhaps the whole truth. The life which was before her,-which it was necessary that she should lead,-seemed to her to be so difficult! She could not clearly see her way to be pure and good and feminine, and at the same time wise. She had been false now;

marry someone. To that someone, how good she would be! How she would strive by duty and

t in to its appointed place in the front