The Europeans

tea, and Robert Acton also, who now regularly asked for a place at this generous repast or made h

ys, Robert," he said. "I should thin

cton more frequent?"

fford. "It seems as if you

said the Baroness. "Give me ti

pieces after you g

that familiar way," Clifford s

wondered if Felix had been teaching him, according to the programm

ing, looked in vain, in her face, for the traces of a guilty passion. Mr. Brand sat down by Ger

had a large morsel of cake before him; but he fingered it withou

not allow him to make her believe she was wrong. She thought of what Felix had said to her; she wished indeed Mr. Brand would marry Charlotte. She looked away from him and spoke no more. Mr. Brand ended by eating his ca

because you were not alone," he began;

an old friend

"I thought I was prepared to hear you speak in th

t else I can say

Gertrude wished he would go away. "He is certainly v

dvise

I know yo

," said Gertrude,

e than you are - to please

? What do you mean?" a

traight-forwardness, "He does n't care for the t

r head. "I don't care for the great ques

en you did n't say t

l of nonsense. And it depends," she added, "upon what you call

gs you talk about

gainst my cousin, Mr. Brand," said

on of the voice, "I should be very sorry to do anything dishonorable. But

ay it to

. Brand. "That is the tone he would

de declared. "That is probably what I

s I said just now,

made me so!" Mr. Brand stood gazing at her, and she went on, "Why should n't I be frivolous, if I want? One has a right to be frivolous, if it 's on

pale, as if he had been frightened. "I don't th

nse. But it is only with you that I talk

ain, when you are less

if it prevents you altogether, in future. Your speaking to me irritates

, at the dusky garden and the faint summer stars. After which, suddenly tur

ically borrowed this ingenuity. "I am not sorry for you," Gertrude said; "for in paying so much attention to me you are following a shadow - you are wasting something precious. There is something else you might have tha

the garden gate. It was Mr. Brand going away and bidding good-night to Charlotte, who had walked down with him from the house. Gertrude saw that the parting was prolonged. Then she turned her back upon it. She had not gone very far, howeve

, dear, if I say somet

to say," said Gertrude. "

lotte demanded. And as her sister made no answ

s he don

a great many times. You told me that he helped you to struggle with your - you

nothing. Then, "Was my te

ng you, Gertrude

hen?" her sister deman

. Brand - reminding y

l with her little laugh. "He can take back the

you talk this way I shall almost believe it. Think of all we owe Mr. Brand. Think of how he has always exp

g at her sister. "I know he is very good

Only he is so different. Mr. Brand is much nearer to us. I should never think of goi

He is more to you; yes, much more. Charlotte,"

harlotte; and her sister saw

nd her. "I wish he would

ou must not say such things!" sh

you say, and he likes

of you!" Charlotte

d pitiless. "Not if it 's true," she

don't sa

ll him so!" s

rtrude!" her sist

. I will say, 'Why don't you marry Charlott

you are changed!"

g him from speaking to me!" And with this she walked away, very conscious of what she h

e, behind a light wagon, over the damp autumn roads, a pair of beautifully matched sorrel horses. Clifford's vision of the coming years was very simple; its most definite features were this element of familiar matrimony and the duplication of his resources for trotting. He had not yet asked his cousin to marry him; but he meant to do so as soon as he had taken his degree. Lizzie was serenely conscious of his intention, and she had made up her mind that he would improve. Her brother, who was very fond of this light, quick, competent little Lizzie, saw on his side no reason to interpose. It seemed to him a graceful social law that Clifford and his sister should become engaged; he himself was not engaged, but every one else, fortunately, was not such a fool as he. He was fond of Clifford, as well, and had his own way - of which it must be confessed he was a little ashamed - of looking at those aberrations which had led to the young man's compulsory retirement from the neighboring seat of learning. Acton had seen the world, as he said to himself; he had been to China and had knocked about among men. He had learned the essential difference between a nice

ress things rather brutally. I feel this to be the case, for instance, when I say that she had primarily detected such an aid to advancement in the person of Robert Acton, but that she had afterwards remembered that a prudent archer has always a second bowstring. Eugenia was a woman of finely-mingled motive, and her intentions were never sensibly gross. She had a sort of aesthetic ideal for Clifford wh

, and fellows of his age called only upon young girls. He exaggerated her age; she seemed to him an old woman; it was happy that the Baroness, with all her intelligence, was incapable of guessing this. But gradually it struck Clifford that visitin

ur," she said to him one afternoon. "Of

I know some fellows who have been to Europ

your idea of fun. Your friend

d?" Cliffo

ed no relations." This was one of a certain number of wor

, in Paris; I know t

is. No, you must go, you know; it is not a thing

ll," said Cliffor

health, my poor child.

any manners!"

is a pity you might not have come while I was living in-in Germany. I would have introduced you; I had a charming little circle. You would perhaps have been

ircle. What was he to begin, and what was her little circle? His ideas about her marriage had a good deal of vagueness; but they were in so far definite a

ny," he said; it seemed to him t

e, smiling with her lips

scruples?"

s?" said

extremely improper you are so terribly proper. I dare say you think that, owing to my irregular ma

estly distressed. "I never t

ers. They say to each other that here I am on my good behavior, but tha

getically, "they don't say suc

ife-time. I see very few women; but those are women of rank. So, my dear young Puritan, you need n't be afraid. I am not in the least one of those who think that the society of women who have lost their place in the vrai monde is necessary to form a young man. I have never taken that tone. I have kept my place myself, a

anguage - what she meant, and that she should mean what he knew, that he could ha

And Clifford thought her a very amusing person indeed. "But remember," she said

him, point-blank, "Are you seriously

a portentous and embarrassing sound; he hesitated about assenting, lest he should commit

the Baroness demanded. "Thos

or not," Clifford rejoined. "But I

roness explained. "No, he must seem to know he is observed, and to think it natural he should be; but he must appear perfectly used to it. Now you have n't that, Cliff

catch me saying tha

ked about, and yet not seem to know it. You will be talked about, of course, with me; it will be

g and laughing. "I shall mind

mind it a little; especially if you have a passion for Miss Acton. Voyons; a

you want to kno

. If one is arranging a marri

ranging anything

tend to marry

ct I shall do

and closed her eyes, as if she were tired. Then openin

t girl in this place

e; she would be charming anywher

I 'm not

At your age that i

roness with some audacity

s sacred as

we are not!"

oo young. A young man in your position must choose and compare; he must see the world first. Depend upon it," she added, "you should not se

," said Clifford. "It seems to me it wi

looked at h

een to school to a clever woman - probably a little older than himself. And you must

on that the Baroness thought her the

head. "No, she do

says," asked Clifford, "is

hat is!" s

eatly to bring about a marriage between Mr. Clifford Wentworth and Miss El