"Yes." "That will do, it is all right,”—and with a movement of irresistible delight she threw up her nosegay into the air, and caught it back again as it fell. He looked a little thoughtful, and did not talk to her any more that evening, but sat on in the same place. Maurice had been asked to sing a new romance which Mrs. Crofton had just received from Paris, the words by Victor Hugo; it was called the "Fou de Tolède." He complied: when he came to the following stanza his eyes fixed themselves on Gertrude : Un jour Sabine a tout donné― Sa beauté de Colombe Et son amour, Pour l'anneau d'or du Comte de Saldagne Pour un bijou Le vent qui vient à travers la montagne Me rendra fou. She did not observe his emotion, but the music of this song-which was wild like a dream of passion-seemed to suit her thoughts also. CHAPTER V. "Not chance of birth or place has made us friends, But the endeavour for the self-same ends, With the same hopes, and fears, and aspirations." SHAKSPEARE. In her mother's arms- -at her mother's feetGertrude spent the next few days. That dark room had grown very dear to her. Her feelings were now more in unison with its aspect. The picture of the Duke of Gandia seemed to look approvingly upon her, as by every little exertion in her power she endeavoured to contribute to her mother's comfort. She told her again and again all the particulars of her stay at Audley Park, amused her with descriptions of the people she had seen, made her smile sometimes and sigh at others, and understood her smiles but not her sighs. Then she talked to her of Adrien, gave a minute account of his looks, of his manner, repeated every word he had said to her, and announced that he would come to Lifford Grange on the following Sunday. "You must tell Father Lifford, love. I wonder what your father would feel about it?" "About what, mamma? About M. d'Arberg's coming to church? You know the chapel is open to every one on Sunday." "Yes, dearest, but if he comes I think you must ask him to have some luncheon." "Yes, to be sure," Gertrude said, with her brightest smile, "we must not let him starve, and then you must see him." "O no, my dearest child, I cannot do that." "Oh, you must, dearest mamma, it will do you a world of good. How I wish I had taken to managing you long ago. You would be so much better by this time. I am beginning to manage Father Lifford too. By going a little lame I make him do whatever I like now." "O but Gertrude, that is very naughty." "No, no, I don't pretend to limp, I only show it off. Oh, we could be so happy here if" . Here she stopped, and a dark cloud passed over her face. In a moment she said, "Lady Clara would come and see you if you liked, mamma." Mrs. Lifford became agitated, "My child, don't let her come. I could not bear it. I am very very grateful to her for her kindness to you, but indeed I cannot see her. I can see nobody. I am not fit for it." "Not Lady Clara then, not anybody but M. d'Arberg. He will talk Spanish to you, and you will understand each other so well. Dearest, when I talk to him, it gives me such a wish to be good like him." Mrs. Lifford looked tenderly at her child and said, "Geltrudina, don't give away that little heart VOL. II. H of thine to a Frenchman." She put her hand on her heart with a smile and said to herself, "I have none left to give away. But he is just as much English as French, or Spanish, or anything else, mamma. He is only like himself." "Do you think he likes you, Gertrude ?" "He does not dislike me, and sometimes I have thought he appeared a little interested about me. But I am no more worthy of him-than Muff,” she said, hiding her face with the little dog's flossy head. "And then, dearest, you should not think of anything of the sort without knowing more about him." "I do know all about him; I know that he is the best, the cleverest, the noblest of human beings." "That may be, dear child. Father Lifford says he is very good; but that is not all that your father would think of." |