countess.

"You do not surely think that I married your son for any other reason
except that I loved him?" she cried.

"Pray, believe that I have never troubled myself in the least to think
of your motive," said my lady.

"I loved him, Lady Lanswell, you could never know how much. You are
proud and haughty; you love a hundred things. I loved but him. I love
him with my whole heart and soul. If he had been a peasant, instead of
an earl, being what he is, I should have loved him just the same."

Lady Lanswell's face darkened with scorn.

"I am willing to listen to anything you may wish to say, but I beg of
you leave all such nonsense as love out of the discussion. You have
probably come to see me because you want money. Let us come to the point
at once."

The pride that flushed the beautiful face of the girl startled the
haughty patrician who stood before her.

"Money," cried Leone, "I have never thought of money. I do not
understand. Why should I want money from you?"

To do her justice, the countess shrunk from the words.

"I should suppose," she said, "that you will require some provision made
for you, now that you are leaving my son?"

It was with difficulty that Leone controlled herself. Her whole frame
trembled with indignation. Then the color receded from her face and left
her white, silent, and motionless.

"I have been too hard," thought the countess, "no one can suffer beyond
her strength."

She motioned the girl to take a chair, sitting down herself for the
first time since the interview began. There was no feeling of pity in
her heart, but she felt there were certain things to be said, and the
best way would be to say them and have it all over.

Leone did not obey. She stood silent for a few minutes. Then she said,
simply:

"I would never take money from you, Lady Lanswell, not even if I were
dying of hunger. You do not like me; you are cruel to me."

Lady Lanswell interrupted her with a superb gesture of scorn.

"I could not possibly like or dislike you," she said; "you are less than
nothing to me. It was natural that I should think you came to me for
money. If that be not your object, may I ask what it is?"

"Yes; I will tell you. I thought, as you were a woman, I might appeal to
you."

My lady smiled haughtily.

"You are the first that has ever ventured to address me as a woman. What
appeal do you want to make to me?"

The passion of despair seemed to die away from her. A great ca