Rose, unconscious of praise or blame, rivalled her uncle in enjoyment of the fare, and talked of her delight in seeing England again, and anything that belonged to her native land.  Mrs. Melville perceived that it pained the refugee Countess, and gave her the glance intelligible; but the Countess never missed glances, or failed to interpret them.  She said: 

‘Let her.  I love to hear the sweet child’s prattle.’

‘It was fortunate’ (she addressed the diplomatist) ’that we touched at Southampton and procured fresh provision!’

‘Very lucky for us!’ said he, glaring shrewdly between a mouthful.

The Count heard the word ‘Southampton,’ and wished to know how it was comprised.  A passage of Portuguese ensued, and then the Countess said: 

’Silva, you know, desired to relinquish the vessel at Southampton.  He does not comprehend the word “expense,” but’ (she shook a dumb Alas!) ’I must think of that for him now!’

‘Oh! always avoid expense,’ said the Hon. Melville, accustomed to be paid for by his country.

‘At what time shall we arrive, may I ask, do you think?’ the Countess gently inquired.

The watch of a man who had his eye on Time was pulled out, and she was told it might be two hours before dark.  Another reckoning, keenly balanced, informed the company that the day’s papers could be expected on board somewhere about three o’clock in the afternoon.

‘And then,’ said the Hon. Melville, nodding general gratulation, ’we shall know how the world wags.’

How it had been wagging the Countess’s straining eyes under closed eyelids were eloquent of.

‘Too late, I fear me, to wait upon Lord Livelyston to-night?’ she suggested.

‘To-night?’ The Hon. Melville gazed blank astonishment at the notion.  ’Oh! certainly, too late tonight.  A-hum!  I think, madam, you had better not be in too great a hurry to see him.  Repose a little.  Recover your fatigue.’

‘Oh!’ exclaimed the Countess, with a beam of utter confidence in him, ’I shall be too happy to place myself in your hands—­believe me.’

This was scarcely more to the taste of the diplomatist.  He put up his mouth, and said, blandly: 

’I fear—­you know, madam, I must warn you beforehand—­I, personally, am but an insignificant unit over here, you know; I, personally, can’t guarantee much assistance to you—­not positive.  What I can do—­of course, very happy!’ And he fell to again upon the beef.

‘Not so very insignificant!’ said the Countess, smiling, as at a softly radiant conception of him.

‘Have to bob and bow like the rest of them over here,’ he added, proof against the flattery.

‘But that you will not forsake Silva, I am convinced,’ said the Countess; and, paying little heed to his brief ‘Oh! what I can do,’ continued:  ’For over here, in England, we are almost friendless.  My relations—­such as are left of them—­are not in high place.’  She turned to Mrs. Melville, and renewed the confession with a proud humility.  ’Truly, I have not a distant cousin in the Cabinet!’