"Then why do people apply the word 'romantic' almost as a term of reproach to others?" "Because they misapply the word, and do not understand it. I plead guilty myself to a most passionate love of romance--that is, romance which teaches, elevates, and ennobles--the soul of poetry, the high and noble faculty that teaches one to appreciate the beautiful and true. You know, Hyacinth, there are true romance and false romance, just as there are true poetry and false poetry." "I can understand what you call true romance, but not what you mean by false," she said. "No; you are too much like the flower you are named after to know much of false romance," he rejoined. "Everything that lowers one's standard, that tends to lower one's thoughts, that puts mere sentiment in the place of duty, that makes wrong seem right, that leads to underhand actions, to deceit, to folly--all that is false romance. Pardon my alluding to such things. The lover who would persuade a girl to deceive her friends for his sake, who would persuade her to give him private meetings, to receive secret letters--such a lover starts from a base of the very falsest romance; yet many people think it true." He did not notice that her beautiful face had suddenly grown pale, and that an expression of fear had crept into her blue eyes. "You are always luring me into argument, Hyacinth," he said, with a smile. "Because I like to hear you talk," she explained. She did not see how full of love was the look he bent on her as he plucked a spray of azalea flowers and passed it to her. Through the tears that filled her downcast eyes she saw the flower, and almost mechanically took it from his hand, not daring to look up. But in the silence of her own room she pressed the flowers passionately to her lips and rained tears upon them, as she moaned, "Oh, if he knew, what would he think of me? what would he think?" CHAPTER XII. Hyacinth Vaughan was soon to learn more of Mr. Darcy's sentiments. He was dining with them one day, when the conversation turned upon some English guests who had arrived at the hotel the evening before--Lord and Lady Wallace. "She looks quite young," said Lady Vaughan. "She would be a nice companion for Hyacinth." Mr. Darcy, to whom she was speaking, made no reply. Lady Vaughan noticed how grave his face had grown. "Do you not think so, Adrian?" she asked. "Since you wish me to speak, my answer is, no; I do not think so." "Do you mind telling me why?" pursued Lady Vaughan "I have been so long out of the world I am ignorant of its proceedings." "I would rather you would not ask me, Lady Vaughan," he said. "And I would rather hear what you have to tell," she persisted, with a smiling air of command that he was too courteous not to obey.