got no chance. A clean and decent road's before me and a comrade for it,
and I'm in the mood to take it, and here's the glaur about my feet! I
wonder what monsieur there would do in a plight like mine. Lord! I envy
him to be sitting there, and never a skeleton tugging at his sleeve."

Mrs. Petullo gulped a sob, and gave a single glance into his face as he
stared across the room.

"Why do you hate that man?" she asked, suddenly.

"Who?" said he smiling, and glad that the wild rush of reproach was
checked. "Is it monsher? I hate nobody, my dear Kate, except sometimes
myself for sin and folly."

"And still and on you hate that man," said she convinced. "Oh no! not
with that face, with the face you had a second ago. I think--oh! I can
guess the reason; he has been up in Doom Castle; has he been getting
round Miss Milk-and-Water? If he has, he's far more like her than you
are. You made me pauperise her father, Sim; I'm sorry it was not worse.
I'll see that Petullo has them rouped from the door."

"Adorable Kate!" said the Chamberlain, ironically.

Her face flamed, she pressed her hand on her side.

"I'll not forget that, Sim," said she with a voice of marvellous calm,
bracing herself to look indifferently across the room at her husband.
"I'll not forget many things, Sim. I thought the man I was to raise from
the lackey that you were ten years ago would have some gratitude. No,
no, no, Sim; I do not mean that, forgive me. Don't look at me like
that! Where are you to be to-morrow night, Sim? I could meet you at the
bridge; I'll make some excuse, and I want you to see my new gown--such a
gown, Sim! I know what you're thinking, it would be too dark to see it;
but you could strike a light, sweetheart, and look. Do you mind when
you did that over and over again the first time, to see my eyes? I'm not
going to say another word about--about Miss Milk-and-Water, if that's
what angers you. She could never understand my Sim, or love the very
worm he tramps on as I do. Now look at me smiling; ain't I brave? Would
any one know to see me that my heart was sore? Be kind to me, Sim, oh!
be kind to me; you should be kind to me, with all you promised!"

"Madame is smiling into a mist; alas! poor M. Petullo!" thought Count
Victor, seeing the lady standing up and looking across the room.

"Kate," said the Chamberlain in a whisper, pulling unobserved at her
gown, "I have something to say to you."

She sat down again in a transport, h