"And how did Sir Charles----" Maynadier began; then, he stopped. (He was about to ask, how Brandon, knowing his rightful name, yet called him Parkington at the Coffee-house, when, according to report, it was a genuine surprise)--"how do you know," he amended, "that the confession is not false--how do you know that he is the son of the Earl of Doncaster, or that Brandon is Brandon?" "I do not know," she answered--"more than this: he is a gentleman--and I believe his story." "The tenderness which a woman always feels for the man who has proposed to her," thought Maynadier, looking down at her with steady eyes. "You are not angry, Dick?" she said. He laughed joyously. "Angry, sweetheart!" he said. "No! no! but let us forget Parkington, and Brandon, and all else, and talk of you, and Rose Hill, and the Mistress Richard Maynadier that is to be." XVIII THE BROKEN RENDEZVOUS The idea, of testing the matter out with Miss Marbury, had presented itself so suddenly, that Parkington had--he must confess it to himself--forgotten for the moment, his engagement to meet Miss Stirling. In truth, it did not recur to him until they had returned from the water-front, after his proposal was rejected. Instantly, he retraced his steps, hoping against hope that she was still waiting, or, better still, that she had not kept the rendezvous. The first contingency failed--the rose-walk was deserted; if Miss Stirling had been there, she was gone, and he would have to pay the penalty. The other contingency was what he prayed for, most fervently. When one is about to ask a woman to be his wife, it is unfortunate if he has to start the interview explaining away his short-comings. He strolled through the other walks--the peony, the mock-orange, and the golden-rose, but without success. She was not in any of them. He turned back to the house, a little discouraged. Now, that he had decided to go home, he had also decided that he wanted Miss Stirling to go back with him--and this was not a propitious beginning. He met Brandon coming down the steps. "What success?" he said. "You mean, with Miss Stirling?" Parkington asked. The other nodded. "Poor," was the answer. "I forgot the rendezvous." "Have you made your peace?" "I have not found her." "You are a careless fellow, De Lysle--I saw you go off with Miss Marbury. Why did you do it?" "To determine whether I wanted to remain in Maryland." "And you determined?" "Yes!" with a faint laugh. "I determined to go back." Brandon slipped an arm through his, and led him down to the esplanade. "You proposed to Miss Marbury, I assume?" he said. "I did." "And she refused you!" "She did." "And you told her, in your infatuated ignorance, that you are not Parkington--that you are an impostor?" "I did." Brandon smiled, mockingly. "She will not repeat it," Parkington averred.