"I can easily imagine why. But in regard to my dear wife, you are
mistaken. Surely she has proved herself your friend."
"She is a noble lady, and I honor her. She is my benefactress, and I
thank her. But she is not my friend, and so I do not love her."
"I am sorry to hear you say so, dear."
"And I am sorry to be obliged to say so. But it is true. You are my
only friend, Mr. Berners. The only friend I have in the wide, wide
world."
"And do you love me?" inquired Lyon Berners, taking the siren's hand,
and utterly yielding to her allurements; "say, fair one, do you love
me?"
"Hush! hush!" breathed Rosa, drawing away her hand and covering her
face--"hush! that is a question you must not ask, nor I answer."
"But--as a brother, I mean?" whispered Lyon.
"Oh! yes, yes, yes! as a dear brother, I love you dearly," fervently
exclaimed Rosa.
"And as a dear sister you shall share my love and care always,"
earnestly answered Mr. Berners.
"And you will not be cold to me any longer?"
"No, dear."
"And you will come and listen to my poor little songs this evening, and
let me do my best to amuse you?"
"Yes, dear, I will throw over all other engagements, and delight myself
in your heavenly strains to-night," answered Lyon Berners.
"Oh! I am so happy to hear you promise that! Of late I have had no heart
to open the piano. But to-night I will awaken for you its most glorious
chords!"
He raised her hand to his lips, and thanked her warmly.
And just at that very instant Miss Tabitha Winterose appeared in the
doorway, her tall, thin form drawn up to its utmost height, her pale,
pinched face lengthened, and her dim blue eyes and skinny hands lifted
up in surprise and disapprobation.
"Well!" simultaneously exclaimed Mr. Berners and Mrs. Blondelle, as they
instinctively drew away from each other.
But Miss Tabitha could not easily recover her composure. She was shocked
and scandalized to see a gentleman and lady, who were not related to
each other, sitting so close together, while the gentleman kissed the
lady's hand!
"Did you want anything?" inquired Mr. Berners, rather impatiently.
"No, I didn't. Yes, I did," answered Miss Winterose, crossly and
confusedly. "I came after that lady there to tell her that I think her
child is going to be very sick, and I want her to come and look after
him. That is, if she an't more pleasanter engaged!" added Miss Tabitha,
scornfully.
"Please excuse me, Mr. Berners," murmured Rosa, sweetly, as she got up
to go out with the housekeeper "Old Cat!" she muttered, under her
breath, as soon as she was out of Lyon's hearing.