rince that I was his very humble servant,
but that I could not marry him."

"Are you sure it was only of Miss Garland's character that you were
jealous, not of--not of"--

"Speak out, I beg you. We are talking philosophy!"

"Not of her affection for her cousin?"

"Sure is a good deal to ask. Still, I think I may say it! There are two
reasons; one, at least, I can tell you: her affection has not a shadow's
weight with Mr. Hudson! Why then should one fear it?"

"And what is the other reason?"

"Excuse me; that is my own affair."

Rowland was puzzled, baffled, charmed, inspired, almost, all at once. "I
have promised your mother," he presently resumed, "to say something in
favor of Prince Casamassima."

She shook her head sadly. "Prince Casamassima needs nothing that you can
say for him. He is a magnificent parti. I know it perfectly."

"You know also of the extreme affliction of your mother?"

"Her affliction is demonstrative. She has been abusing me for the last
twenty-four hours as if I were the vilest of the vile." To see Christina
sit there in the purity of her beauty and say this, might have made one
bow one's head with a kind of awe. "I have failed of respect to her
at other times, but I have not done so now. Since we are talking
philosophy," she pursued with a gentle smile, "I may say it 's a simple
matter! I don't love him. Or rather, perhaps, since we are talking
philosophy, I may say it 's not a simple matter. I spoke just now of
inspiration. The inspiration has been great, but--I frankly confess
it--the choice has been hard. Shall I tell you?" she demanded, with
sudden ardor; "will you understand me? It was on the one side the world,
the splendid, beautiful, powerful, interesting world. I know what that
is; I have tasted of the cup, I know its sweetness. Ah, if I chose, if I
let myself go, if I flung everything to the winds, the world and I would
be famous friends! I know its merits, and I think, without vanity, it
would see mine. You would see some fine things! I should like to be a
princess, and I think I should be a very good one; I would play my part
well. I am fond of luxury, I am fond of a great society, I am fond of
being looked at. I am corrupt, corruptible, corruption! Ah, what a pity
that could n't be, too! Mercy of Heaven!" There was a passionate tremor
in her voice; she covered her face with her hands and sat motionless.
Rowland saw that an intense agitation, hitherto successfully represse