"Elsie," said Andrea, as he prepared to descend with the Marchese, "go straight to your room." I turned without a word, and stunned, astonished, unutterably miserable, fled upstairs without a glance at the hostile group on the landing. Once the door safely shut behind me, my pent up feelings found vent, and I sobbed hysterically. Was ever such a morning in a woman's life? And I had had no breakfast. I was not allowed much time in which to indulge my emotions. Very soon came a knock at the door, and a maid entered with wine, bread, and chestnuts. With the volubility of Italian servants, she pressed me to eat and drink, and when she departed with the empty tray I felt refreshed, and ready to fight my battle to the last. A second knock at the door was not long in following the first, and this time it was the Marchesa who responded to my "Come in." My heart sank considerably as the stately little lady advanced towards me, and I inwardly reproached Andrea for his desertion. CHAPTER XIII. A SKILFUL DIPLOMATIST. "Miss Meredith," said the Marchesa, taking the chair I mechanically offered her, and waving her hand towards another, "pray be seated." I obeyed, feeling secretly much in awe of the rigid little figure sitting very upright opposite me. "What, after all, is the love of a young man but a passing infatuation?" This was the first gun fired into the enemy's camp, but there was no answering volley. That she spoke in all good faith I fully believe, and I felt how useless would be any discussion between us of the point. I looked down in silence. "Miss Meredith," went on the dry, fluent tones, which I was beginning to feel were the tones of doom, "I will refrain from blaming you in this unfortunate matter. I will merely state the case as it stands. You come into this family, are well received, kindly treated, and regarded with esteem by us all. In return for this, I am bound to say, you perform your duties and do what is required of you with amiability. So far all is well. But there are traditions, feelings, sacred customs, and emotions belonging to the family where you have been received of which you can have no knowledge. That is not required, nor expected of you. What is expected of you, as of every right-minded person, is that you should at least respect what is of such importance to others. Is this the case? Have you not rather taken delight in outraging our feelings in their most delicate relations; in trampling, in your selfish ignorance, on all that we hold most dear?" Her words stung me; they were cruel words, but I had sworn inwardly to stand by my guns. With hands interlocked and drooping head, I sat before her without word.