“I respect Miss Royal too much to hear her name used in any such discussion,” replied Mr. King.  “Good morning, sir.”

“The mean Yankee!” exclaimed the Southerner, as he looked after him.  “If he were a gentleman he would have challenged me, and I should have met him like a gentleman; but one doesn’t know what to do with such cursed Yankee preaching.”

He was in a very perturbed state of mind.  Rosabella had, in fact, made a much deeper impression on him than any other woman had ever made.  And now that he saw her the bright cynosure of all eyes, fresh fuel was heaped on the flickering flame of his expiring passion.  Her disdain piqued his vanity, while it produced the excitement of difficulties to be overcome.  He was exasperated beyond measure, that the beautiful woman who had depended solely upon him should now be surrounded by protectors.  And if he could regain no other power, he was strongly tempted to exert the power of annoyance.  In some moods, he formed wild projects of waylaying her, and carrying her off by force.  But the Yankee preaching, much as he despised it, was not without its influence.  He felt that it would be most politic to keep on good terms with his rich wife, who was, besides, rather agreeable to him.  He concluded, on the whole, that he would assume superiority to the popular enthusiasm about the new prima donna; that he would coolly criticise her singing and her acting, while he admitted that she had many good points.  It was a hard task he undertook; for on the stage Rosabella attracted him with irresistible power, to which was added the magnetism of the admiring audience.  After the first evening, she avoided looking at the box where he sat; but he had an uneasy satisfaction in the consciousness that it was impossible she could forget he was present and watching her.

The day after the second appearance of the Senorita Campaneo, Mrs. Delano was surprised by another call from the Fitzgeralds.

“Don’t think we intend to persecute you,” said the little lady.  “We merely came on business.  We have just heard that you were to leave Rome very soon; but Mr. Green seemed to think it couldn’t be so soon as was said.”

“Unexpected circumstances make it necessary for me to return sooner than I intended,” replied Mrs. Delano.  “I expect to sail day after to-morrow.”

“What a pity your daughter should go without hearing the new prima donna!” exclaimed Mrs. Fitzgerald.  “She is really a remarkable creature.  Everybody says she is as beautiful as a houri.  And as for her voice, I never heard anything like it, except the first night I spent on Mr. Fitzgerald’s plantation.  There was somebody wandering about in the garden and groves who sang just like her.  Mr. Fitzgerald didn’t seem to be much struck with the voice, but I could never forget it.”

“It was during our honeymoon,” replied her husband; “and how could I be interested in any other voice, when I had yours to listen to?”