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〃Yes。 It is an odd taste of mineisn't it？to be fond of chasing in
gold and silver。 Years ago I met with a man in Italy； who taught me。 It
amused me； thenand it amuses me now。 When I was recovering from an
illness last spring； I shaped that vase out of the plain metal； and made
the ornaments on it。〃
〃Another mystery revealed！〃 she exclaimed。 〃Now I know what you wanted
with those gold and silver plates that came to you from London。 Are you
aware of what a character you have got here？ There are some of us who
suspect you of coining false money！〃
They both burst out laughing as gaily as a couple of children。 I declare
I wished myself one of the party！ But no。 I had my duty to do as a
respectable woman。 My duty was to steal a little nearer； and see if any
familiarities were passing between these two merry young people。 One half
of the open window was sheltered； on the outer side； by a Venetian blind。
I stood behind the blind； and peeped in。 （Duty！ oh； dear me； painful； but
necessary duty！） Dubourg was sitting with his back to the window。 Lucilla
faced me opposite to him。 Her cheeks were flushed with pleasure。 She held
in her lap a pretty little golden vase。 Her clever fingers were passing
over it rapidly； exactly as they had passed； the previous evening； over
my face。
〃Shall I tell you what the pattern is on your vase？〃 she went on。
〃Can you really do that？〃
〃You shall judge for yourself。 The pattern is made of leaves； with birds
placed among them； at intervals。 Stop！ I think I have felt leaves like
these on the old side of the rectory； against the wall。 Ivy？〃
〃Amazing！ it _is_ ivy。〃
〃The birds；〃 she resumed。 〃I shan't be satisfied till I have told you
what the birds are。 Haven't I got silver birds like themonly much
largerfor holding pepper； and mustard； and sugar； and so on。 Owls！〃 she
exclaimed； with a cry of triumph。 〃Little owls； sitting in ivy…nests。
What a delightful pattern！ I never heard of anything like it before。〃
〃Keep the vase！〃 he said。 〃You will honor me； you will delight me； if you
will keep the vase。〃
She rose and shook her headwithout giving him back the vase； however。
〃I might take it； if you were not a stranger；〃 she said。 〃Why don't you
tell us who you are； and what your reason is for living all by yourself
in this dull place？〃
He stood before her； with his head down； and sighed bitterly。
〃I know I ought to explain myself；〃 he answered。 〃I can't be surprised if
people are suspicious of me。〃 He paused； and added very earnestly； 〃I
can't tell it to _you。_ Oh； nonot to _you！_〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Don't ask me！〃
She felt for the table； with her ivory cane； and put the vase down on
itvery unwillingly。
〃Good morning； Mr。 Dubourg；〃 she said。
He opened the door of the room for her in silence。 Waiting close against
the side of the house； I saw them appear under the porch； and cross the
little walled enclosure in front。 As she stepped out on the open turf
beyond； she turned； and spoke to him again。
〃If you won't tell _me_ your secret；〃 she said； 〃will you tell it to some
one else？ Will you tell it to a friend of mine？〃
〃To what friend？〃 he asked。
〃To the lady whom you met with me last night。〃
He hesitated。 〃I am afraid I offended the lady；〃 he said。
〃So much the more reason for your explaining yourself；〃 she rejoined。 〃If
you will only satisfy _her；_ I might ask you to come and see usI might
even take the vase。〃 With that strong hint； she actually gave him her
hand at parting。 Her perfect self…possession； her easy familiarity with
this strangerso bold； and yet so innocentpetrified me。 〃I shall send
my friend to you this morning；〃 she said imperiously； striking her cane
on the turf。 〃I insist on your telling her the whole truth。〃
With that； she signed to him that he was to follow her no farther； and
went her way back to the village。
Does it not surprise you； as it surprised me？ Instead of her blindness
making her nervous in the presence of a man unknown to her； it appeared
to have exactly the contrary effect。 It made her fearless。
He stood on the spot where she had left him； watching her as she receded
in the distance。 His manner towards her； in the house and out of the
house； had exhibited； it is only fair to say； the utmost consideration
and respect。 Whatever shyness there had been between them； was shyness
entirely on his side。 I had a short stuff dress on； which made no noise
over the grass。 I skirted the wall of the enclosure； and approached him
unsuspected； from behind。 〃The charming creature！〃 he said to himself；
still following her with his eyes。 As the words passed his lips； I struck
him smartly on the shoulder with my parasol。
〃Mr。 Dubourg；〃 I said； 〃I am waiting to hear the truth。〃
He started violentlyand confronted me in speechless dismay； his color
coming and going like the color of a young girl。 Anybody who understands
women will understand that this behavior on his part； far from softening
me towards him； only encouraged me to bully him。
〃In your present position in this place； sir；〃 I went on； 〃do you think
it honorable conduct on your part to decoy a young lady； to whom you are
a perfect stranger； into your housea young lady who claims； in right of
her sad affliction； even more than the usual forbearance and respect
which a gentleman owes to her sex？〃
His shifting color settled； for the time； into an angry red。
〃You are doing me a great injustice； ma'am；〃 he answered。 〃It is a shame
to say that I have failed in respect to the young lady！ I feel the
sincerest admiration and compassion for her。 Circumstances justify me in
what I have done； I could not have acted otherwise。 I refer you to the
young lady herself。〃
His voice rose higher and higherhe was thoroughly offended with me。
Need I add （seeing the prospect not far off of _his_ bullying _me_）； that
I unblushingly shifted my ground； and tried a little civility next？
〃If I have done you an injustice； sir； I ask your pardon；〃 I answered。
〃Having said so much； I have only to add that I shall be satisfied if I
hear what the circumstances are； from yourself。〃
This soothed his offended dignity。 His gentler manner began to show
itself again。
〃The truth is；〃 he said； 〃that I owe my introduction to the young lady to
an ill…tempered little dog belonging to the people at the inn。 The dog
had followed the person here who attends on me： and it startled the lady
by flying out and barking at her as she passed this house。 After I had
driven away the dog； I begged her to come in and sit down until she had
recovered herself。 Am I to blame for doing that？ I don't deny that I felt
the deepest interest in her and that I did my best to amuse her； while
she honored me by remaining in my house。 May I ask if I have satisfied
you？〃
With the best will in the world to maintain my unfavorable opinion of
him； I was； by this time； fairly forced to acknowledge to myself that the
opinion was wrong。 His explanation was； in tone and manner as well as in
language； the explanation of a gentleman。
And； besidesthough he was a little too effeminate for my tastehe
really was such a handsome young man！ His hair was of a fi