So he and Zoe went to the train. Neither said much on the way to Homburg; for they were both brooding. Vizard's good sense and right feeling were beginning to sting him a little for calling on the Klosking at all, and a great deal for using the enthusiasm of an inexperienced girl to obtain an introduction to a public singer. He sat moody in his corner, taking himself to task. Zoe's thoughts ran in quite another channel; but she was no easier in her mind. It really seemed as if Severne had given her the slip. Probably he would explain his conduct; but, then, that Fanny should foretell he would avoid her company, rather than call on Mademoiselle Klosking, and that Fanny should be right—this made the thing serious, and galled Zoe to the quick: she was angry with Fanny for prophesying truly; she was rather angry with Severne for not coming, and more angry with him for making good Fanny's prediction.
Zoe Vizard was a good girl and a generous girl, but she was not a humble girl: she had a great deal of pride, and her share of vanity, and here both were galled. Besides that, it seemed to her most strange and disheartening that Fanny, who did not love Severne, should be able to foretell his conduct better than she, who did love him: such foresight looked like greater insight. All this humiliated and also puzzled her strangely; and so she sat brooding as deeply as her brother.
As for Vizard, by the time they got to Homburg he had made up his mind. As they got out of the train, he said, “Look here, I am ashamed of myself. I have a right to play the fool alone; but I have no business to drag my sister into it. We will go somewhere else. There are lots of things to see. I give up the Klosking.”
Zoe stared at him a moment, and then answered, with cold decision, “No, dear; you must allow me to call on her, now I am here. She won't bite me.”
“Well, but it is a strange thing to do.”
“What does that matter? We are abroad.”
“Come, Zoe, I am much obliged to you; but give it up.”
“No, dear.”
Harrington smiled at her pretty peremptoriness, and misunderstood it. “This is carrying sisterly love a long way,” said he. “I must try and rise to your level. I won't go with you.”
“Then I shall go alone.”