“Oh! I am so happy to hear you promise that! Of late I have had no heart to open the piano. But to-night I will awaken for you its most glorious chords!”
He raised her hand to his lips, and thanked her warmly.
And just at that very instant Miss Tabitha Winterose appeared in the doorway, her tall, thin form drawn up to its utmost height, her pale, pinched face lengthened, and her dim blue eyes and skinny hands lifted up in surprise and disapprobation.
“Well!” simultaneously exclaimed Mr. Berners and Mrs. Blondelle, as they instinctively drew away from each other.
But Miss Tabitha could not easily recover her composure. She was shocked and scandalized to see a gentleman and lady, who were not related to each other, sitting so close together, while the gentleman kissed the lady’s hand!
“Did you want anything?” inquired Mr. Berners, rather impatiently.
“No, I didn’t. Yes, I did,” answered Miss Winterose, crossly and confusedly. “I came after that lady there to tell her that I think her child is going to be very sick, and I want her to come and look after him. That is, if she an’t more pleasanter engaged!” added Miss Tabitha, scornfully.
“Please excuse me, Mr. Berners,” murmured Rosa, sweetly, as she got up to go out with the housekeeper “Old Cat!” she muttered, under her breath, as soon as she was out of Lyon’s hearing.
When Mr Berners was left alone, he did not resume the reading of his review. His heart became the prey of bitter-sweet reflections, made up of gratified self-love and of severe self-reproach.
“That beautiful creature does care for me, and is pained by my coldness! Ah! but I hope and trust she loves me only as a sister loves a brother! She has no brother, poor child! And her heart must have some one to lean on! I must be that one, for she has chosen me, and I will not be so recreant to humanity as to reject her trust.”