"Rosa Tazewell! you are speaking of my brother, my friend and
benefactor! one of the best, noblest, most disinterested creatures
Heaven ever made!" cried Mabel, erect and indignant. "You have no
warrant--I shall never give you the right--to asperse him in my
presence. He is incapable of cruelty or unfairness. It is my duty to
obey him, but it is no less a pleasure, for he is a hundred-fold
wiser and better than I am--knows far more truly what is for my real
advantage. As to his conduct in this affair of Frederic and myself,
yon cannot deny that it has been generous and consistent throughout.
He has been cautious--never harsh!"
"So!" said Rosa, scrutinizing the flushed countenance of the other,
her own full of intense meaning, "you HAVE had your misgivings!"
Mabel reddened more warmly.
"Misgivings! What do you mean?"
"That the uncalled-for vehemence of your defence is a proof of
disturbed confidence, of wanting belief in the infallibility of your
semi-deity. The trailing robes of divinity have been blown aside by
a chance breath of suspicion, and you had a glimpse of the clay
feet. I am glad of it. Scepticism is the parent of rebellion, and
the time is coming when fealty to your betrothed may demand
disloyalty to the power that now is."
Mabel's smile was meant to be careless, but it was only uneasy, and
gave the lie direct to her asseveration.
"I have no apprehensions of such a conflict. Winston's word is as
good as another man's oath. It is pledged to my marriage with
Frederic Chilton, in the event of the prosperous issue of his
inquiries into his, Frederic's, character and prospects. That these
will be answered favorably, I have the word of another, who is every
whit as trustworthy. Where is there room for doubt?"
The brunette shook her head--unconvinced.
"Have your own way! I can afford to abide the showing of the logic
of events."
"And I!" retorted Mabel, hastily, turning from her, without
attempting to dissemble her chagrin, to answer a knock at the door.
It was a servant, with two letters. The annoyance passed from her
brow, like the sheerest mist, as she read the superscriptions--one
in her brother's handwriting, the other in Frederic's.
Rosa interfered to prevent the breaking of the seals.
"I am going to leave you to the undisturbed enjoyment of your
feast," she said, in her most winsome manner. "But--won't it taste
the sweeter if your antepast is the delight of forgiveness? Say you
are not angry with me--mia cara!"