"It looks like it," cried Mr. St. John.
"I have," retorted Rose, "whether it looks like it or not. I shall be as good and steady a matron as your wife there, who loves you to her fingers' ends."
Georgina laughed and blushed as they rose to leave, promising plenty of visits to the young Baroness during their stay in Paris.
In going out, they met the Baron. Georgina was surprised to see so good-looking a man; for Mr. St. John had described to her his close-cut hair and his curled moustache. That was altered now; the hair was in light waves; the moustache reduced to propriety: Rose said she had made him presentable.
He was very cordial; had apparently forgotten old scores against Mr. St. John, and pressed the hospitality of his house upon them as long as they were in Paris. Their frequent presence in it, he said, would complete the bliss of himself and his wife.
"Frederick," exclaimed Georgina, thoughtfully, when they had returned to their hotel, "should you think the Baron ever loved Adeline as he does Rose? He is evidently very fond of her."
"Perhaps he did not. His intended marriage with Adeline was a contract; with Rose he had time to fall in love."
"And--perhaps--you never loved her so very, very deeply!" timidly rejoined Georgina, raising to him her grey-blue eyes.
"I must say one thing," he answered, smiling; "that if a certain young lady of my particular acquaintance is not satisfied with her husband's love----"
She did not let him go on; she threw herself into his sheltering arms, the tears of emotion falling from her eyes.