“I should dislike that sort of attention,” she replied hastily.  “Do not suppose, however, that I am ashamed of my dear mother, or of her lineage; but I wish to have any interest I excite founded on my own merits, not on any extraneous circumstance.  But you have not yet advised me whether to remain on the stage or to retire from it.”

“If I presumed that my opinion would decide the point,” rejoined he, “I should be diffident about expressing it in a case so important to yourself.”

“You are very delicate,” she replied.  “But I conjecture that you would be best pleased if I decided in favor of concert-singing.”

While he was hesitating what to say, in order to leave her in perfect freedom, she added:  “And so, if you will have the goodness to introduce me to your relative, and she is willing to be my patroness, I will try my fortune in England.  Of course she ought to be informed of my previous history; but I should prefer to have her consider it strictly confidential.  And now, if you please, I will say, An revoir; for Papa Balbino is waiting for some instructions on matters of business.”

She offered her hand with a very sweet smile.  He clasped it with a slight pressure, bowed his head upon it for an instant, and said, with deep emotion:  “Thank you, dearest of women.  You send me away a happy man; for hope goes with me.”

When the door closed after him, she sank into a chair, and covered her face with both her hands.  “How different is his manner of making love from that of Gerald,” thought she.  “Surely, I can trust this time.  O, if I was only worthy of such love!”

Her revery was interrupted by the entrance of Madame and the Signor.  She answered their inquisitive looks by saying, rather hastily, “When you told Mr. King the particulars of my story, did you tell him about the poor little bambino I left in New Orleans?”

Madame replied, “I mentioned to him how the death of the poor little thing afflicted you.”

Rosa made no response, but occupied herself with selecting some pieces of music connected with the performance at the opera.

The Signor, as he went out with the music, said, “Do you suppose she didn’t want him to know about the bambino?”

“Perhaps she is afraid he will think her heartless for leaving it,” replied Madame.  “But I will tell her I took all the blame on myself.  If she is so anxious about his good opinion, it shows which way the wind blows.”

The Senorita Rosita Campaneo and her attendants had flitted, no one knew whither, before the public were informed that her engagement was not to be renewed.  Rumor added that she was soon to be married to a rich American, who had withdrawn her from the stage.

“Too much to be monopolized by one man,” said Mr. Green to Mr. Fitzgerald.  “Such a glorious creature belongs to the world.”

“Who is the happy man?” inquired Mrs. Fitzgerald.