Pietro Ghisleri

towards Laura, and that the repulsion she had felt for Arden had depended upon his deformity, to which she had now grown accustomed, as was quit

owever, in spite of her efforts to seem cheerful and agreeable during the two days which preceded the dinner party her father had obliged her to give. There were domestic details, too, which gave her trouble, and she had more than enough to occupy her. Her maid had been very ill,

m with open arms and protestations of affection. But she did everything in her power to make the meeting effective. She even went so far as to buy pretty little gifts for the Prince and Princess of Gerano, and for Laura and Arden, which she took the trouble to conceal with her own hands in the folds of each one's napkin just before dinner; pretty little chiselled silver sweetmeat boxes for the two

g. Gerano looked at his daughter approvingly, repeatedly smiled, nodded to her, and at last drank her health. Don Francesco was delighted, for he saw in his wife's manner the strongest refutation of all that Arden had told him two days earlier. Moreover, he had Laura Arden on his left and was at liberty to talk to her as much as

n ordinary cold told quickly upon his appearance in his weak state of health. But he did all in his power t

against Adele, and even Laura fancied that they must have been very much exaggerated. The Prince, himself, the only one of the party who had heard the slander from Adele's own lips, sentence by sentence, and almost word for word as Ghisleri had repeated it

aid. "I have noticed it all the evening.

quite well, thank

it easy for her, bestowing infinite praise upon her tact and talent as a hostess. Though she did not hear all he said, she was vaguely pleased, that, after spending the whole e

they got home. He looked worse, and coughed

id. "You had better not get up to-

right," he answer

ing to be done was to stay in bed two or three days. Later in the afternoon Pietro Ghisleri called, and Laura, at Arden's express desire, received him alone, promising to bring him into the bedroom afterwards. Several days had passed since they

wrong?" he asked, a

The doctor says it is nothing serious, bu

yed. Pietro was inclined to smile, when he understood that what he had said to Gerano had borne fruit so soon. He was quite sure that before night he should hear of some even more amiable doings on Adele's part, for he guessed at once that the Prince had forced her t

," he remarked, finding, as usual, t

, with a constrained little laug

der certain circumstances become, in the best religious sense, a holy woman. Had he seen her on that evening when Arden had found her strangling an imaginary enemy in a fit of exceedingly human anger, he could hardly have accepted the evidence of his senses. All that was good in her appealed directly through all that was bad in him to the small remnant of the better nature which had survived through his misspent life. It did not, indeed, rouse in him the slightest active desire to imitate her virtues. The very idea that he could ever be virtuous in any sense, brought a smile to his face. But he could not help admiring what he knew to be so very far beyond his sphere-what he believed, perhaps, to be even further from his reach

rbid. The very absurdity of them, which cannot escape the man himself, makes him seem still more despicable in his own eyes, increases his distrust of himself and gives rise, completing the vicious circle, to conditions each time more senselessl

tward image, and the conception he had formed of her character. He almost hated old Spicca for having said that no one could possibly be as good as she looked. In her own self she was the most overwhelmi

Pietro to see Arden, an

ith me, Ghisleri," said his friend. "

his sufferings from every one. Ghisleri looked at him anxiously. His face was drawn and pinc

cold," suggested Pietro, in a reassuring

ain thing, and I am no more consumptive than you are. But I feel-I cannot tell why-that I am goi

." But Ghisleri was

If I should get worse to-morrow, really ill, you know-you must write to m

not believe there

e well, and if anything should happen to me, his will would be worth nothing. Laura would not get a penny and would be dreadfully poor. Henry must do something for her. Do you understand me? He must. You must see to it, too, or he will never think of it-kind as he is. Those things do not strike him. You see

nxious as he listened to the sick man's excited talk. "You have told me all

unnaturally brilliant. "He is so eccentric. And Laura must have money-she must have plenty-not that she is extravagant, but you

n a hundred a year," observed Pietro. "Peop

sleri saw that he was thinking of his

ong as I should be there to make life smooth for her. But when she is left alone-espe

in that way, Arden! It is perfectly ab

o-it is not sentiment-something much more reasonable and real. There are people here who hate us both, who positively hate us, and who will make her life

den had discovered that he had enemies. But the latter waited for n

e-that you should write to him-that he should be made to under

he heard his own name pronounced almost without an interval, immediately after that of Laura. It sounded very stran

t of your mind for the present, and remember that I am always ready if you need anything.

friend. Perhaps you are right. But as I l

ted Ghisleri. "I must go away or yo

the room. She started a little

him?" she asked q

here is a little fever with it. I am going to leave him, for he

n. Laura followed him ou

oice, touching his sleeve in her excitement

o see the doctor at once. I have a cab down stairs, and I will go an

ou are

d the great round spots on his cheeks had deepened almost to a purple colour. He scarcely seemed to notice her entrance, bu

go away!" he cried. "D

g," she answered gently,

ought him back. Then he waited in the drawing-room to hear the result of the vis

ng serious?"

ple of hours. The fever is very high, the other symptoms

ou think i

resent. You should get a nurse at once, for some one must sit up with him all night. I wil

hisleri waiting for him in the street. It was now five o'clock an

when the physici

ost sudden cases I ever knew. They have not got a

it is contagious, is it not? I have a visit to p

not know Ghisleri, and fan

nswered, "or hardly at all. I do

en a very little, you think

change one's clothes," replied

tly what must be done, I suppose

re of appearances. Pietro wrote a few words on his card, telling Laura that he would be back before dinner time with the best nurse to be found,

ill not see me for several days. Arden has got the scarlet fever, and I s

e for him?" asked Maddale

oo. I am going to get one

ult me in the least," said the C

k this is a case of consulting

nk you contribute to my happiness by doing it? And yet I have heard you sa

hisleri, gently. "I would d

you did not put it in that way, I should tell you not to go n

e," assen

ery differently. Do you remember that evening by the w

an to harden in the

im as long as I am needed because I do not trust nurses, and because Lady Herbert is anything but strong herself at the present time, and may break down

tessa, who was determined to find fault. "You do not

t I changed my clothes before coming to see you, for that

bert is quite well again. I will not answer for the consequenc

n the

leasant things Adele Savelli says about me-and you, too. I have told you more than once ex

th Francesco Savelli, because his wife spreads scandalous reports

es on his, "there is no sooner something said against Lady Herbert A

I did not know that you were aware of the fa

elli last night, that every one embraced every one else, that Adele looks like death to-day, and is going about everywhere saying t

nd that Ghisleri, as he said, could defend the Ardens without fear of adverse criticis

, after a moment's reflection. "You are not the wife

ent?" She looke

intimate friend. Yet Lady Herbert is beautiful and good, and is admirable in many ways. But the world kno

o not generally like to give yourself trouble for indifferent people. But then, as Arden

I am not altogether insincere and calculating in everyth

inary inconsistencies in your character, such contradictions-it is very hard t

Have I ever lied to you? Have I ever made a promise to you and not kept it? H

deceive me, but I was deceived in you. You are not what I thought you were. You used to say that you would stand at nothing-tha

u expect me to do, you would

s you say you do, would you need any

, because you do not wish

urself off from me for a week-or two weeks? I su

of me. Say plainly that you wish me to give up the idea, to leave Ard

t, you shall do it. I will force you to it now. I will not see you until Arden does not need you any more-not even i

time since, he was sure. At the present juncture it would be very easy to tell her the truth, if his love were no longer real, and to break with her once and for ever. Did she love him? Cruelly and coldly he compared her love with that of another whom he had sa

de, and took her small white hand. "Forgive me, forgive me all

little, but her f

give," she said. "It is