’Why not, you foolish child?  You don’t know your own mind.  Why, it is plain to everybody that you love him.  My lady has all along said she was sure you loved him—­she has seen what little princess airs you put on to him; and Anthony too, he thinks you are in love with Gilfil.  Come, what has made you take it into your head that you wouldn’t like to marry him?’

Caterina was now sobbing too deeply to make any answer.  Sir Christopher patted her on the back and said, ’Come, come; why, Tina, you are not well this morning.  Go and rest, little one.  You will see things in quite another light when you are well.  Think over what I have said, and remember there is nothing, after Anthony’s marriage, that I have set my heart on so much as seeing you and Maynard settled for life.  I must have no whims and follies—­no nonsense.’  This was said with a slight severity; but he presently added, in a soothing tone, There, there, stop crying, and be a good little monkey.  Go and lie down and get to sleep.’

Caterina slipped from the stool on to her knees, took the old Baronet’s hand, covered it with tears and kisses, and then ran out of the room.

Before the evening, Captain Wybrow had heard from his uncle the result of the interview with Caterina.  He thought, ’If I could have a long quiet talk with her, I could perhaps persuade her to look more reasonably at things.  But there’s no speaking to her in the house without being interrupted, and I can hardly see her anywhere else without Beatrice’s finding it out.’  At last he determined to make it a matter of confidence with Miss Assher—­to tell her that he wished to talk to Caterina quietly for the sake of bringing her to a calmer state of mind, and persuade her to listen to Gilfil’s affection.  He was very much pleased with this judicious and candid plan, and in the course of the evening he had arranged with himself the time and place of meeting, and had communicated his purpose to Miss Assher, who gave her entire approval.  Anthony, she thought, would do well to speak plainly and seriously to Miss Sarti.  He was really very patient and kind to her, considering how she behaved.

Tina had kept her room all that day, and had been carefully tended as an invalid, Sir Christopher having told her ladyship how matters stood.  This tendance was so irksome to Caterina, she felt so uneasy under attentions and kindness that were based on a misconception, that she exerted herself to appear at breakfast the next morning, and declared herself well, though head and heart were throbbing.  To be confined in her own room was intolerable; it was wretched enough to be looked at and spoken to, but it was more wretched to be left alone.  She was frightened at her own sensations:  she was frightened at the imperious vividness with which pictures of the past and future thrust themselves on her imagination.  And there was another feeling, too, which made her want to be down-stairs and moving about.  Perhaps she might have an opportunity of speaking to Captain Wybrow alone—­of speaking those words of hatred and scorn that burned on her tongue.  That opportunity offered itself in a very unexpected manner.