“There!” Rhoda exclaimed, with a lightning face.  “You don’t see what he is, after that?  Oh!—­” She paused, revolted.

“Will you let me run off to the young man, wherever he’s to be found, and put the case to him—­that is, from Dahlia?  And you know she doesn’t like the marriage overmuch, Rhoda.  Perhaps he may think differently when he comes to hear of things.  As to Mr. Blancove, men change and change when they’re young.  I mean, gentlemen.  We must learn to forgive.  Either he’s as clever as the devil, or he’s a man in earnest, and deserves pity.  If you’d heard him!”

“My poor sister!” sighed Rhoda.  The mentioning of money to be paid had sickened and weakened her, as with the very physical taste of degradation.

Hearing the sigh, Robert thought she had become subdued.  Then Rhoda said:  “We are bound to this young man who loves my sister—­bound to him in honour:  and Dahlia must esteem him, to have consented.  As for the other...”  She waved the thought of his claim on her sister aside with a quick shake of her head.  “I rely on you to do this:—­I will speak to Mr. Blancove myself.  He shall not see her there.”  She indicated the house.  “Go to my sister; and lose no time in taking her to your lodgings.  Father will not arrive till twelve.  Wait and comfort her till I come, and answer no questions.  Robert,” she gave him her hand gently, and, looking sweetly, “if you will do this!”

“If I will!” cried Robert, transported by the hopeful tenderness.  The servant girl of the house had just opened the front door, intent on scrubbing, and he passed in.  Rhoda walked on to Edward.

CHAPTER XXXVII

A profound belief in the efficacy of his eloquence, when he chose to expend it, was one of the principal supports of Edward’s sense of mastery; a secret sense belonging to certain men in every station of life, and which is the staff of many an otherwise impressible and fluctuating intellect.  With this gift, if he trifled, or slid downward in any direction, he could right himself easily, as he satisfactorily conceived.  It is a gift that may now and then be the ruin of promising youths, though as a rule they find it helpful enough.  Edward had exerted it upon his father, and upon Robert.  Seeing Rhoda’s approach, he thought of it as a victorious swordsman thinks of his weapon, and aimed his observation over her possible weak and strong points, studying her curiously even when she was close up to him.  With Robert, the representative of force, to aid her, she could no longer be regarded in the light of a despicable hindrance to his wishes.  Though inclined strongly to detest, he respected her.  She had decision, and a worthy bearing, and a marvellously blooming aspect, and a brain that worked withal.  When she spoke, desiring him to walk on by her side, he was pleased by her voice, and recognition of the laws of propriety, and thought it a thousand pities