Minna felt the insult that was implied, but she had her end to gain. She was not to be turned aside from it by a few amenities of this description. So she replied, as if she had not noticed the tone at all: ‘Fulvia is dear to me. I love her, and wish her to be happy. Is she not recovering a little now?’ ‘Yes. She is going to be better, I think.’ ‘It is dark. I will light the lamp,’ said Minna, and she did so quickly. The light was a good one, and served amply to illuminate the scene and those taking part in it. By slow degrees the rigidity gradually left Fulvia’s face and limbs. A long, shuddering sigh broke from her breast, and her eyes slowly opened. They fell at once upon her mother, who was standing near her. Signora Dietrich, despite her impecuniosity, dressed well when once she had made up her mind to get out of her dressing-gown into her gown. She had on just now a handsome black satin garment, with a white lace collar and cuffs. The somewhat florid and profuse style of her jewellery was the only ‘mark of the beast’ to distinguish her. ‘Mamma!’ exclaimed Fulvia, starting up, and looking round her in a bewildered way. ‘Where am I, and what has been the matter with me?’ ‘Little over-tired, that is all,’ answered her mother. ‘You’ve had a little faint, as girls will sometimes, when they are excited or exhausted. Do you feel fit to walk now? Because, if so, we will relieve Signora Hastings of our presence, and let her have her room to herself.’ Fulvia made no reply. Her face was still very white, and a strange hollowness had come under her eyes and in her cheeks. ‘Pray do not hurry,’ said Minna. ‘I should like to say something to you, signora,’ she continued earnestly. ‘Will you not sit down here? I mean no disrespect to you by anything I may say. Pray remember that.’ Signora Dietrich bowed with cold dignity, and waited. She even took the chair which Minna offered her. The latter went on: ‘I am sure you wish your daughter’s happiness.’ ‘It would be very unnatural if I did not--my only child,’ replied the lady, but still coldly. ‘And you think to secure it by marrying her to a rich man?’