“You must come too, Brightcoat. I shouldn’t think of leaving you here alone. Besides, you are always welcome at the house, and I am only there on suffrage. If I behave badly I must go. It’s a very terrible thing that, when you think about it. Enough to make me tremble and shake all over.” So the frog jumped lightly from the bed on to her shoulder, and made a most delightful ornament. As they walked across the garden to the house the nightingales were singing in the soft still air of night. The Governor, who was walking on the terrace, greeted his guests, and they passed into the house, which was all brilliantly lit to receive them. “This is your last night with us, so I have asked you here to dine with me,” said the old man. “My last night?” Her voice was full of wonder and sadness. “You surely will not be sorry to leave the soil?” “Ah! but you and Brightcoat are here. I would much rather stay. Besides, my heart is in the garden yet, and here with the jewels that I brought to you. Oh, you have been my friend; and there is none other. Where else can I go? Let me still live in the little hut, with the freedom I have bought to-night.” But he shook his head and smiled as they sat down to dinner just alone. “You imagine you have become attached to the hut. But there are other and better places, believe me.” “And does the way back lead as I came?” “Pretty much so, I believe.” “Into Marble House, with its shadows and cobwebs. I’m sure I daren’t go.” “Perhaps it has become less shadowy since you were there. There is spring cleaning, you know, in all well-regulated houses.” “But it is not well regulated. There is one part all moths and mildew, and people live in it, or rather work there. I know, for Mariana does. How I should love to see her once again! And upstairs it is wretchedly lit. In fact, Mr. Barringcourt’s private room was the only human-looking place I ever saw there. But perhaps by now he has a wife. But she’ll need great strength of mind to get the necessary repairs done, I’m thinking. He seemed as if he would be very conservative, except where things affected his own comfort.” “I don’t think he’s got a wife yet,” said the Governor. When they had finished the meal, and the frog had had its full share of the dainties that were to its taste, the Governor led the way to his own room, and placing a chair for Rosalie near the fire, he drew his own to the other side of the fireplace and sat down. “Do you object to smoke?” he asked. “Oh, no! Uncle had a pipe that he had smoked for years and years and years. And the night before he died he let it fall, and it broke. I remember how sad he looked at the time—and perhaps there was more in it than just the breaking of the pipe, for he said nothing, but that he could soon get a new one. And if all things had been right I think it would have angered him.” “You were greatly attached to your uncle?” “Oh, yes! I loved them both. No one could have been kinder to me than they.”