the notes here； and half at the door。' They agreed； and then I did
it quick； walked to the door； took the child； gave them the odd
notes； and made off as fast as I could； hired a nurse at the
hospitaland the rest you know。〃
〃Papa；〃 said Rosa； with enthusiasm； 〃there is but one man in
England who would have got me back my child； and this is he。〃
When they were alone； Falcon told her she had said words that
gladdened his very heart。 〃You admit I can carry out one half of
his wishes？〃 said he。
Mrs。 Staines said 〃Yes；〃 then colored high； then； to turn it off；
said； 〃But I cannot allow you to lose that large sum of money。 You
must let me repay you。〃
〃Large sum of money！〃 said he。 〃It is no more to me than sixpence
to most people。 I don't know what to do with my money； and I never
shall know； unless you will make a sacrifice of your own feelings
to the wishes of the dead。 O Mrs。 StainesRosa； do pray consider
that a man of that wisdom sees the future； and gives wise advice。
Sure am I that； if you could overcome your natural repugnance to a
second marriage； it would be the best thing for your little boyI
love him already as if he were my ownand in time would bring you
peace and comfort； and some day； years hence； even happiness。 You
are my only love； yet I should never have come to you again if HE
had not sent me。 Do consider how strange it all is； and what it
points to； and don't let me have the misery of losing you again；
when you can do no better now； alas！ than reward my fidelity。〃
She was much moved at this artful appeal； and said； 〃If I was sure
I was obeying his will。 But how can I feel that； when we both
promised never to wed again？〃
〃A man's dying words are more sacred than any other。 You have his
letter。〃
〃Yes； but he does not say 'marry again。'〃
〃That is what he meant； though。〃
〃How can you say that？ How can you know？〃
〃Because I put the words he said to me together with that short
line to you。 Mind； I don't say that he did not exaggerate my poor
merits； on the contrary； I think he did。 But I declare to you that
he did hope I should take care of you and your child。 Right or
wrong； it was his wish； so pray do not deceive yourself on that
point。〃
This made more impression on her than anything else he could say；
and she said； 〃I promise you one thing； I will never marry any man
but you。〃
Instead of pressing her further； as an inferior artist would； he
broke into raptures； kissed her hand tenderly； and was in such high
spirits； and so voluble all day； that she smiled sweetly on him；
and thought to herself； 〃Poor soul！ how happy I could make him with
a word！〃
As he was always watching her facea practice he carried further
than any person livinghe divined that sentiment； and wrought upon
it so； that at last he tormented her into saying she would marry
him SOME DAY。
When he had brought her to that； he raged inwardly to think he had
not two years to work in； for it was evident she would marry him in
time。 But no； it had taken him more than four months； close siege；
to bring her to that。 No word from Phoebe。 An ominous dread hung
over his own soul。 His wife would be upon him； or； worse still；
her brother Dick； who he knew would beat him to a mummy on the
spot； or； worst of all； the husband of Rosa Staines； who would kill
him； or fling him into a prison。 He MUST make a push。
In this emergency he used his ally； Mr。 Lusignan； he told him Mrs。
Staines had promised to marry him； but at some distant date。 This
would not do； he must look after his enormous interests in the
colony； and he was so much in love he could not leave her。
The old gentleman was desperately fond of Falcon； and bent on the
match； and he actually consented to give his daughter what Falcon
called a little push。
The little push was a very great one； I think。
It consisted in directing the clergyman to call in church the banns
of marriage between Reginald Falcon and Rosa Staines。
They were both in church together when this was done。 Rosa all but
screamed； and then turned red as fire and white as a ghost； by
turns。 She never stood up again all the service； and in going home
refused Falcon's arm； and walked swiftly home by herself。 Not that
she had the slightest intention of passing this monstrous thing by
in silence。 On the contrary； her wrath was boiling over； and so
hot that she knew she should make a scene in the street if she said
a word there。
Once inside the house she turned on Falcon； with a white cheek and
a flashing eye； and said； 〃Follow me； sir； if you please。〃 She led
the way to her father's study。 〃Papa；〃 said she； 〃I throw myself
on your protection。 Mr。 Falcon has affronted me。〃
〃Oh； Rosa！〃 cried Falcon； affecting utter dismay。
〃Publiclypublicly： he has had the banns of marriage cried in the
church； without my permission。〃
〃Don't raise your voice so loud； child。 All the house will hear
you。〃
〃I choose all the house to hear me。 I will not endure it。 I will
never marry you nownever！〃
〃Rosa； my child；〃 said Lusignan； 〃you need not scold poor Falcon；
for I am the culprit。 It was I who ordered the banns to be cried。〃
〃Oh！ papa； you had no right to do such a thing as that。〃
〃I think I had。 I exercised parental authority for once； and for
your good； and for the good of a true and faithful lover of yours；
whom you jilted once； and now you trifle with his affection and his
interests。 He loves you too well to leave you； yet you know his
vast estates and interests require supervision。〃
〃That for his vast estates！〃 said Rosa contemptuously。 〃I am not
to be driven to the altar like this； when my heart is in the grave。
Don't you do it again； papa； or I'll get up and forbid the banns；
affront for affront。〃
〃I should like to see that；〃 said the old gentleman dryly。
Rosa vouchsafed no reply； but swept out of the room； with burning
cheeks and glittering eyes； and was not seen all day； would not
dine with them； in spite of three humble； deprecating notes Falcon
sent her。
〃Let the spiteful cat alone；〃 said old Lusignan。 〃You and I will
dine together in peace and quiet。〃
It was a dull dinner； but Falcon took advantage of the opportunity；
impregnated the father with his views； and got him to promise to
have the banns cried next Sunday。 He consented。
Rosa learned next Sunday morning that this was to be done； and her
courage failed her。 She did not go to church at all。
She cried a great deal； and submitted to violence； as your true
women are too apt to do。 They had compromised her； and so
conquered her。 The permanent feelings of gratitude and esteem
caused a reaction after her passion； and she gave up open
resistance as hopeless。
Falcon renewed his visits； and was received with the mere sullen
languor of a woman who has given in。
The banns were cried a third time。
Then the patient Rosa bought laudanum enough to reunite her to her
Christopher； in spite of them all； and having provided herself with
this resource； became more cheerful； and even kind and caressing。
She declined to name the day at present； and that was awkward。
Nevertheless the conspirators felt sure they should tire her out
into doing that； before long； for they saw their way clear； and she
was perplexed in the extreme。
In her perplexity； she used to talk to a certain beautiful star she
called her Christopher。 She loved to fancy he was now an
inhabitant of that bright star； and often on a clear night she
would look up； and beg for guidance from this star。 This I
consider foolish： but then I am old and sceptical； she was still
young and innocent； and sorely puzzled to know her husband's real
will。
I don't suppose the star had anything to do with it； except as a
focus of her thoughts； but one fine night； after a long inspection
of Christopher's star； she dreamed a dream。 She thought that a
lovely wedding…dress hung over a chair； that a crown of diamonds as
large as almonds sparkled ready for her on the dressing…table； and
she was undoing her black gown； and about to take it off； when
suddenly the diamonds began to pale； and the white satin dress to
melt away； and in its place there rose a pale face and a long
beard； and Christopher Staines stood before her； and said quietly；
〃Is this how you keep your vow？〃 Then he sank slowly； and the
white dress was black； and the diamonds were jet； and she awoke；
with his gentle words of remonstrance and his very tones ringing in
her ear。
This dream； co…operating with her previous agitation and
misgivings； shook her very much； she did not come down…stairs till
near dinner…time； and both her father and Falcon； who came as a
matter of course to spend his Sunday； were struck with her
appearance。 She was pale； gloomy； morose； and had an air of
desperation about her。
Falcon would not see it； he knew that it is safest to let her sex
alone when they look like that； and then the storm sometimes
subsides of itself。
After dinner； Rosa retired early； and soon she was heard walking
rapidly up and down the dressing…room。
This was quite unusual； and made a noise。
Papa Lusignan thought it inconsiderate； and after a while；
remarking gently that he was not particularly fond of sound； he
proposed they should smoke the pipe of peace on the lawn。
They did so； but after a while； finding that Falcon was not
smoking； he said； 〃Don't let me detain you。 Rosa is alone。〃
Falcon took the hint； and went to the drawing…room。 Rosa met him
on the stairs； with a scarf over her shoulders。 〃I must speak to
papa；〃 said she。 〃Where is he？〃
〃He is on the lawn； dear Rosa；〃 said Falcon； in his most dulcet
tones。 He was sure of his ally； and very glad to use him as a
buffer to receive the first shock。
So he went into the drawing…room； where all the lights were
burning； and quietly took up a book。 But he did not read a line；
he was too occupied in trying to read his own future。
The mean villain； who is incapable of remorse； is； of all men； most
capable of fear。 His villany had； to all appearance； reached the
goal； for he felt sure that all Rosa's struggles would； sooner or
later； succumb to her sense of gratitude and his