“O! I’m sure she would!” cried Harriet, all the blood in her body flying into her face, “she is so very kind to me! Madame Gobelli!” she continued, turning from the window to the light, “Captain Pullen says that if you will allow him to show us the lions of Brussels, he will come and join us there in a couple of days--” “If I find I can manage it!” interposed Ralph, cautiously. “Manage it! Why, of course you can manage it,” said the Baroness. “What’s to ’inder a young man like you doing as ’e chooses? You’re not tied to your sister’s apron-string, are you? Now mind! we shall ’old you to it, for I believe it’s the only thing that will make ’Arriet come, and I think a week in Brussels will do us all good! You’re not looking well yourself, you know, Captain Pullen! You’re as white as ashes this evening, and if I didn’t know you were such a good boy, I should say you’d been dissipating a bit lately! He! he! he!” “The only dissipating I have indulged in, is basking in the sunshine of your eyes, Madame!” replied Ralph gallantly. “That’s a good ’un!” retorted the Baroness, “it is more likely you’ve been looking too much in the eyes of my little friend ’ere. You’re a couple of foxes, that’s what you are, and I expect it would take all my time to be looking after you both! And so I suppose it’s settled, Miss ’Arriet, and you’ll come with us to Brussels after all!” “Yes, Madame, if you’ll take charge of me!” said Miss Brandt. “We’ll do that for a couple of days, and then we’ll give over charge. Are we to engage a room for you, Captain, at the Hôtel de Saxe?” “I had better see after that myself, Madame, as the date of my coming is uncertain,” replied Ralph. “But you _will_ come!” whispered Harriet. “Need you ask? Would I not run over the whole world, only to find myself by your side? Haven’t you taken the taste out of everything else for me, Harriet?” CHAPTER VIII.