orthy
conclusion to which his own thoughts were leading him. He turned back
again to Regina; he spoke so loudly and so vehemently that the gathering
flow of her tears was suspended in surprise. "You're right, you're quite
right, my dear! I ought to give you time, of course. I try to control
my hasty temper, but I don't always succeed--just at first. Pray forgive
me; it shall be exactly as you wish."

Regina forgave him, with a gentle and ladylike astonishment at the
excitable manner in which he made his excuses. She even neglected her
embroidery, and put her face up to him to be kissed. "You are so nice,
dear," she said, "when you are not violent and unreasonable. It is such
a pity you were brought up in America. Won't you stay to lunch?"

Happily for Amelius, the footman appeared at this critical moment with
a message: "My mistress wishes particularly to see you, sir, before you
go."

This was the first occasion, in the experience of the lovers, on which
Mrs. Farnaby had expressed her wishes through the medium of a servant,
instead of appearing personally. The curiosity of Regina was mildly
excited. "What a very odd message!" she said; "what does it mean? My
aunt went out earlier than usual this morning, and I have not seen her
since. I wonder whether she is going to consult you about my uncle's
affairs?"

"I'll go and see," said Amelius.

"And stay to lunch?" Regina reiterated.

"Not to-day, my dear."

"To-morrow, then?"

"Yes, to-morrow." So he escaped. As he opened the door, he looked back,
and kissed his hand. Regina raised her head for a moment, and smiled
charmingly. She was hard at work again over her embroidery.

CHAPTER 5

The door of Mrs. Farnaby's ground-floor room, at the back of the house,
was partially open. She was on the watch for Amelius.

"Come in!" she cried, the moment he appeared in the hall. She pulled him
into the room, and shut the door with a bang. Her face was flushed, her
eyes were wild. "I have something to tell you, you dear good fellow,"
she burst out excitedly--"Something in confidence, between you and me!"
She paused, and looked at him with sudden anxiety and alarm. "What's the
matter with you?" she asked.

The sight of the room, the reference to a secret, the prospect of
another private conference, forced back the mind of Amelius, in one
breathless instant, to his first memorable interview with Mrs. Farnaby.
The mother's piteously hopeful words, in speaking of her lo