’The first trifle is refused.  It does not astonish me.  I will honour you now by talking seriously to you.  I have treated you hitherto as a child.  Or, no—­’ she stopped her mouth; ’it is enough if I tell you, dear, that poor Mrs. Bonner is dying, and that she desires my attendance on her to refresh her spirit with readings on the Prophecies, and Scriptural converse.  No other soul in the house can so soothe her.’

‘Then, stay,’ said Evan.

‘Unprotected in the midst of enemies!  Truly!’

’I think, Louisa, if you can call Lady Jocelyn an enemy, you must read the Scriptures by a false light.’

‘The woman is an utter heathen!’ interjected the Countess.  ’An infidel can be no friend.  She is therefore the reverse.  Her opinions embitter her mother’s last days.  But now you will consent to remain with me, dear Van!’

An implacable negative responded to the urgent appeal of her eyes.

‘By the way,’ he said, for a diversion, ’did you know of a girl stopping at an inn in Fallow field?’

‘Know a barmaid?’ the Countess’s eyes and mouth were wide at the question.

‘Did you send Raikes for her to-day?’

’Did Mr. Raikes—­ah, Evan! that creature reminds me, you have no sense of contrast.  For a Brazilian ape—­he resembles, if he is not truly one —­what contrast is he to an English gentleman!  His proximity and acquaintance—­rich as he may be—­disfigure you.  Study contrast!’

Evan had to remind her that she had not answered him:  whereat she exclaimed:  ’One would really think you had never been abroad.  Have you not evaded me, rather?’

The Countess commenced fanning her languid brows, and then pursued:  ’Now, my dear brother, I may conclude that you will acquiesce in my moderate wishes.  You remain.  My venerable. friend cannot last three days.  She is on the brink of a better world!  I will confide to you that it is of the utmost importance we should be here, on the spot, until the sad termination!  That is what I summoned you for.  You are now at liberty.  Ta-ta, as soon as you please.’

She had baffled his little cross-examination with regard to Raikes, but on the other point he was firm.  She would listen to nothing:  she affected that her mandate had gone forth, and must be obeyed; tapped with her foot, fanned deliberately, and was a consummate queen, till he turned the handle of the door, when her complexion deadened, she started up, trembling, and tripping towards him, caught him by the arm, and said:  ’Stop!  After all that I have sacrificed for you!  As well try to raise the dead as a Dawley from the dust he grovels in!  Why did I consent to visit this place?  It was for you.  I came, I heard that you had disgraced yourself in drunkenness at Fallow field, and I toiled to eclipse that, and I did.  Young Jocelyn thought you were what you are I could spit the word at you! and I dazzled him to give you time to win this minx,