There was certainly fate in the next words she spoke:
"This Captain Dugald was a near relative and great favorite with my first husband, the old Earl of Hurstmonceux; chiefly, I think, for the exuberant gayety of temper and disposition of the young man, that always kept the old one amused. But after the earl married me he turned a cold shoulder to the captain, and complimented me by being jealous of him. This occasioned gossip, in which my good name suffered some injustice."
The countess paused, and turned her beautiful eyes appealingly to
Ishmael, saying:
"When you shall become one of the lawgivers of your native country, young gentleman, I hope that the crime of slander will be made a felony, indictable before your criminal courts."
"If I had the remodeling of the laws," said Ishmael earnestly, "slander should be made felonious and punishable as theft is."
"But, dear Berenice, the gossip of which you speak could have done you no lasting injury," said Claudia.
"'No lasting injury.' Well, no eternal injury, I hope, if you mean that," sighed the countess.
"No, I mean to say that a woman like yourself lives down calumny."
"Ah! but in the living it down, how much of heartwasting."
The countess dropped her head upon her hand for a moment, while all her long black ringlets fell around and veiled her pale and thoughtful face. Then, looking up, she said: