"And hath taken farewell of me. Her affection is not of the earth. Better for her that she should never know the quality of mine." "She is happy?" "I do think so," said my lord. Susannah faced him suddenly. "And you--what are you going to do?" He laughed sadly. "For once I can answer you. I shall marry Miss Trefusis." They stood facing each other under a silver sconce, the pale light of its candles over their faces. Susannah leant against the panelled walls and lowered her eyes. "For the money?" she said in a repressed voice. "Miss Trefusis is one of the most charming ladies in London," answered the Earl; "but to you I can say it. Yes." "For the second time!" Susannah spoke in the same tone. "I wonder you can dare." "Oh, my dear!"--there was sadness in my lord's sweet weary voice--"you are a lady of sense, not so simple. How have I been living but on the prospects of a marriage such as this? With Miss Boyle I should have had to face God knows what--the Fleet maybe, or a post with the Prince at Bois-le-duc. As it is----" "Say no more!" broke in Susannah. "You will break her heart, that is all." "Do you speak of Selina Boyle?" "Of whom else? Miss Trefusis is aware of what she does. What do I care for her? I regard Selina----" "She hath said farewell. She would say no other word." Susannah broke out passionately. "Oh, cannot you understand? She cares for you beyond anything in the world; she thinks that so do you care for her, and if you marry--Ah, but I can say no more!" "There is no more to be said," answered my lord. "These ideas are sweet, but over-romantical. I shall ask for the hand of Miss Trefusis to-morrow, as I am a very ordinary gentleman and cannot go to ruin for a whim." Miss Chressham pressed her brow wearily. "My head aches, and we cannot converse on such things in the crowd, amid the light and music, neither can I recollect all I would say." "You despise me," smiled the Earl. He laughed lightly. Slowly they turned into the gay card-room, where the orchestra played to the gamesters and an Italian singer's voice rose above the murmur of talk. My lord spoke again, with utter weariness in his voice. "As you say, we cannot converse here. To-morrow I will wait on you and on my lady; perhaps I can a little justify myself." She would not look at him. "Ah, Rose, what do you care about justifying yourself to me? As for my lady, I think she will be pleased." "I have confessed to you," he answered. "I have told you I do what comes, being in no way heroic or noble." He paused. "You are going now," she said. "I cannot bear to listen to you here." "Yes, I will get away from these people. I came only to meet you; I feel fatigued." She saw Miss Westbrook approaching, and gave Lyndwood her hand. "To-morrow then we meet, and you will write to Marius?" "In the morning--yes. I will bring you the letter"--he kissed her hand. "My duty to my lady." "Good-night, Rose." He smiled at her, half appealingly.