“Did you really, now? Well, upon my word, I thought at first he was almost as grumpy as Rochester in ‘Jane Eyre;’ but when those grumpy people do begin to pay one compliments, it is so nice. Of course, with regard to Mario, Lord Palmerston, Sir Edwin Landseer, and Charles Mathews, my feelings will be unchanged to my dying day. But the worship of public characters need not interfere with the happiness of domestic life; and as Roderick’s position in the _corps diplomatique_ will take us abroad, his jealousy need never be aroused in the slightest degree.” Miss Grunderson entertained the two ladies for some time with minute details of her own affairs, and she confessed presently that Roderick had promised to call for her. “He doesn’t want to see Mrs. Tredethlyn, you know,” she said; “he was only anxious to express to you how sorry he is, and so on--though, of course, now he hasn’t any occasion to be sorry, thank goodness!--but you don’t mind his coming to fetch me, do you, dear? The carriage is waiting for me, and I’m going to take him on to the Haymarket, where we’re to see about the resetting of some old-fashioned diamond earrings that Roderick’s ma has sent me. They’re not nearly as handsome as my own, you know; but, of course, I feel grateful to her for the attention. And I’m to go down to Lowther Hall to stay before our marriage; and I’m to be introduced to a maiden aunt of Roderick’s, from whom he has expectations, this very afternoon--I mean I’m to be introduced to her this very afternoon,” added Rosa. While she was chattering the door was opened, and a servant announced Mr. Lowther. He came out of the bright white daylight on the staircase into the room which was kept cool and shadowy by closed Venetian shutters. As he looked about him, unaccustomed to the obscurity, he heard a faint shriek, and a woman who had been sitting with her back to the window started suddenly from her chair. “Robert!” she cried; “Robert, is it you?” And then she sank down again, pale and breathless. “Robert!” exclaimed Miss Grunderson; “you must mistake Mr. Lowther for some one else, Mrs. Lesley. His name is not Robert.” “Perhaps not,” Susan answered, sadly. “He kept his real name a secret from the poor girl who was once proud to call herself his wife; but whatever his name may be he is my husband nevertheless, and Providence has brought about our meeting to-day. Oh, don’t add a falsehood to the wrong you have done me!” she cried, appealing to Roderick Lowther, who stood pale and confounded, with the faces of the three women all turned towards him, and with the knowledge that those scrutinizing eyes were upon him. “I shall claim very little of you. I only want you to give me the name I have a right to bear; I only want you to acknowledge your son.” Roderick Lowther did not reply to this appeal. After a moment’s pause he turned to Julia: