"I must now say farewell for the present," exclaimed Markham, afraid of trusting himself longer with the Syren who had fascinated him with her misfortunes as well as by her charms. "In a day or two I will see you again. Oh! I cannot blame you for what you have done:--I commiserate--I pity you! Could any sacrifice that I am capable of making, restore you to happiness and--and--" "Honour, you would say," exclaimed Diana, firmly. "I would gladly make that sacrifice," added Richard. "From this moment we will be friends--very sincere friends. I will be your brother, dearest Diana--and you shall be my sister!" The young man rose from the sofa, as he uttered these disjointed sentences in a singularly wild and rapid manner; and Diana, without making any reply, but apparently deeply touched, pressed his hand for some moments between both her own. Richard then hastily escaped from the presence of that charming and fascinating creature. CHAPTER XI. "THE SERVANTS' ARMS." Upon the same day that this event took place, Mr. Whittingham, the butler of Richard Markham, had solicited and obtained permission to pass the evening with a certain Mr. Thomas Suggett, who occupied the distinguished post of _valet de chambre_ about the person of the Honourable Arthur Chichester. Whittingham was determined to enjoy himself:--he seemed suddenly to have cast off twenty years from his back, and to walk the more upright for having rid himself of the burthen;--his hat was slightly cocked on one side; and, as he walked along, with Mr. Thomas Suggett tucked under his arm, he struck his silver-headed bamboo, which he always carried with him when he went abroad on Sundays and holidays, very forcibly upon the pavement. Mr. Suggett declared "that, for his part, he was very well disposed for a spree;" and he threw into his gait a most awful swagger, which certainly excited considerable attention, because all the small boys in the streets laughed at him as he wended on his way. "I wonder what them urchins are garping at so," said Whittingham. "It mystificates me in no inconsiderable degree. Raly the lower orders of English is exceedingly imperlite. I feel the most inwigorated disgust and the most unboundless contempt for their manners." "That's jist like me," observed Suggett: "I can't a-bear the lower orders. I hate everythink wulgar.--But, by the bye, Mr. Whittingham, do you smoke?" "I can't say but what I like a full-flavoured Havannah--a threepenny, mind," added the butler, pompously. "Just my taste, Mr. Whittingham. If I can't afford threepennies, I won't smoke at all."