“Let us start fair in good earnest,” cried Zedwitz, eagerly, “but in order to do so, you must establish yourself in my quarters. The rooms which belong to my father when he is in town are at your service; neither he nor my mother comes to Munich this season, as Agnes’s marriage takes place before the carnival. We will live together—visit the Rosenbergs together, and at the end of two or three months write a letter to Hildegarde, and——” Hamilton began to laugh. “Had you proposed this plan at Seon, I might have agreed to it—but now it would be absurd to think of such a thing. Putting all other feelings out of the question, Hildegarde has become absolutely necessary to me. When I am ill, she tends me—when I am well, she reads with me, or for me, and amuses me; and when I am out of temper, she quarrels with me!” “In the last particular I could supply her place,” said Zedwitz, “for I could quarrel with you easily enough. If I thought you really loved her, I should not so much mind, but you are deliberately seeking a few months’ amusement at her expense, and endeavouring to gain her affection without any object whatever; for as to your seven years’ engagement, I cannot for a moment believe you serious. Perhaps Englishwomen may consider this pardonable, but my countrywomen——” “Your countrywomen unfortunately do not understand the meaning of the word flirtation,” said Hamilton, interrupting him. “I wish I had time and opportunity to explain it to them.” “Explain to me what flirtation is,” said Zedwitz, gravely. “No,” said Hamilton, “I shall do no such thing, for I see by your face that you are ready to preach a sermon upon the crime of endeavouring to please any of your fair countrywomen without having both the intention and power to marry with all possible despatch; and now, will you come upstairs with me?” Zedwitz shook his head. “I do not mean to press you,” said Hamilton, “for I must say I never found you less amusing than to-day. I wish you would make an agreement never to mention Hildegarde’s name to me.” “It is an excellent idea,” said Zedwitz, “but, as I am sincerely attached to her, I hope you will consider it no breach of confidence, should I warn her against this flirtation love of yours.” “None whatever,” replied Hamilton, laughing. “You cannot say more and will not probably say half as much in your warning as I have already said, when she was present, to her sister Crescenz.” “You are incomprehensible,” said Zedwitz, shrugging his shoulders, and walking off with a slight frown on his usually good-humoured countenance. --------------------- CHAPTER XX. THE WARNING.