“Tell me everything he said to you.”
“I don’t think he was pleased to see us,” said Rosa. “I heard him say his brother was in the country, and that he was quite well.”
“Ah!” murmured Violante.
“And he told me that Signor Arthur, as you call him, had lost the girl he was engaged to—that she is dead.”
“I knew she was dead: he told me so.”
“Did he? but, in short, Violante, I hope you won’t let this meeting dwell in your mind. What is past, is past; and—you won’t be unhappy, my child, will you?”
“No,” said Violante, slowly, and with some reserve.
She was disturbed and agitated; but she was very far from hopeless. Now that the seas did not divide them, anything seemed possible: she might meet him in the street—he might seek her again. But slow days passed, and she did not see him, while James, the Greys heard, went out of town for Christmas. The poor child had many weary yearning hours; but pleasure and novelty and affectionate kindness were not powerless; nor was she miserable. During these days Rosa’s choice of an occupation was determined—at any rate, for the present. Her uncle offered her a home in his house until her father came to England, if she accepted the situation of daily governess to Mrs Bosanquet. She found that the stage could not be for the present remunerative: and, even with Violante’s schooling provided for, the two sisters had to clothe themselves; and she could not bear to be a burden on such kind relations. So when the moment of decision came she told her aunt that she would do her best for the little Bosanquets, and thanked her heartily for her recommendation.
“I can do it, as I’ve done before,” she said, “and I will. But now, Aunt Beatrice, will you tell me something about this school for Violante? Do they know who she is?”
“Oh, yes. Miss Venning is an old friend of mine. We haven’t met for some years now; but she is a most excellent and kind-hearted person; and her two sisters, who are quite young, are, I believe, admirable. I am sure Violante will meet with nothing but kindness, and it will do her good to fend for herself a little.”