tell me distinctly that your manner towards me is based upon a something
which you must not reveal?"

"I am sure, sir, you have too much generosity to press me on a subject
of which I cannot, or ought not to speak."

That fatal Burgundy had got into my brains, while the princely delusion
was uppermost; and if I had been submitted to the thumbscrew now, I
would have died one of the Orleans family.

"Mademoiselle," said I, grandly, "I have been fortunately, or
unfortunately, brought up in a class that never tolerates contradiction.
When we ask, we feel that we order."

"Oh, sir, if you but knew the difficulty I am in--"

"Take courage, my dear creature," said I, blending condescension with
something warmer. "You will at least be reposing your confidence where
it will be worthily bestowed."

"But I have promised--not exactly promised; but Mrs. Keats enjoined me
imperatively not to betray what she revealed to me."

"Gracious Powers!" cried I, "she has not surely communicated my
secret,--she has not told you who I am?"

"No, sir, I assure you most solemnly that she has not; but being annoyed
by what she remarked as the freedom of my manner towards you at dinner,
the readiness with which I replied to your remarks, and what she deemed
the want of deference I displayed for them, she took me to task this
evening, and, without intending it, even before she knew, dropped
certain expressions which showed me that you were one of the very
highest in rank, though it was your pleasure to travel for the moment in
this obscurity and disguise."

She quickly perceived the indiscretion she had committed, and said,
"Now, Miss Herbert, that an accident has put you in possession of
certain circumstances, which I had neither the will nor the right to
reveal, will you do me the inestimable favor to employ this knowledge
in such a way as may not compromise me?' I told her, of course, that
I would; and having remarked how she occasionally--inadvertently,
perhaps--used 'sir' in addressing you, I deemed the imitation a safe
one, while it as constantly acted as a sort of monitor over myself to
repress any relapse into familiarity."

"I am very sorry for all this," said I, taking her hand in mine, and
employing my most insinuating of manners towards her. "As it is more
than doubtful that I shall ever resume the station that once pertained
to me; as, in fact, it may be my fortune to occupy for the rest of
life an humble and lowly condition,