"We resemble each other in one particular,"she proceeded,graciously;"we both like to breathe the fresh air before breakfast."He said exactly what common politeness obliged him to say,and no more--he said,"Yes."Some girls might have been discouraged.Francine went on.
"It is no fault of mine,Mr.Morris,that we have not been better friends.For some reason,into which I don't presume to inquire,you seem to distrust me.I really don't know what I have done to deserve it.""Are you sure of that?"he asked--eying her suddenly and searchingly as he spoke.
Her hard face settled into a rigid look;her eyes met his eyes with a stony defiant stare.Now,for the first time,she knew that he suspected her of having written the anonymous letter.
Every evil quality in her nature steadily defied him.A hardened old woman could not have sustained the shock of discovery with a more devilish composure than this girl displayed."Perhaps you will explain yourself,"she said.
"I haveexplained myself,"he answered.
"Then I must be content,"she rejoined,"to remain in the dark.Ihad intended,out of my regard for Emily,to suggest that you might--with advantage to yourself,and to interests that are very dear to you--be more careful in your behavior to Mr.Mirabel.Are you disposed to listen to me?""Do you wish me to answer that question plainly,Miss de Sor?""I insist on your answering it plainly."
"Then I am notdisposed to listen to you."
"May I know why?or am I to be left in the dark again?""You are to be left,if you please,to your own ingenuity."Francine looked at him,with a malignant smile."One of these days,Mr.Morris--I will deserve your confidence in my ingenuity."She said it,and went back to the house.
This was the only element of disturbance that troubled the perfect tranquillity of the day.What Francine had proposed to do,with the one idea of making Alban serve her purpose,was accomplished a few hours later by Emily's influence for good over the man who loved her.
They passed the afternoon together uninterruptedly in the distant solitudes of the park.In the course of conversation Emily found an opportunity of discreetly alluding to Mirabel."You mustn't be jealous of our clever little friend,"she said;"I like him,and admire him;but--""But you don't love him?"
She smiled at the eager way in which Alban put the question.
"There is no fear of that,"she answered brightly.
"Not even if you discovered that he loves you?""Not even then.Are you content at last?Promise me not to be rude to Mr.Mirabel again.""For his sake?"
"No--for my sake.I don't like to see you place yourself at a disadvantage toward another man;I don't like you to disappoint me."The happiness of hearing her say those words transfigured him--the manly beauty of his earlier and happier years seemed to have returned to Alban.He took her hand--he was too agitated to speak.
"You are forgetting Mr.Mirabel,"she reminded him gently.
"I will be all that is civil and kind to Mr.Mirabel;I will like him and admire him as you do.Oh,Emily,are you a little,only a very little,fond of me?""I don't quite know."
"May I try to find out?"
"How?"she asked.
Her fair cheek was very near to him.The softly-rising color on it said,Answer me here--and he answered.
