Mrs. Melville met her sad smile, and returned it, as one who understood its entire import.

’My brother-in-law-my sister, I think, you know—­married a—­a brewer!  He is rich; but, well! such was her taste!  My brother-in-law is indeed in Parliament, and he—­’

‘Very little use, seeing he votes with the opposite party,’ the diplomatist interrupted her.

‘Ah! but he will not,’ said the Countess, serenely.  ’I can trust with confidence that, if it is for Silva’s interest, he will assuredly so dispose of his influence as to suit the desiderations of his family, and not in any way oppose his opinions to the powers that would willingly stoop to serve us!’

It was impossible for the Hon. Melville to withhold a slight grimace at his beef, when he heard this extremely alienized idea of the nature of a member of the Parliament of Great Britain.  He allowed her to enjoy her delusion, as she pursued: 

’No.  So much we could offer in repayment.  It is little!  But this, in verity, is a case.  Silva’s wrongs have only to be known in England, and I am most assured that the English people will not permit it.  In the days of his prosperity, Silva was a friend to England, and England should not—­should not—­forget it now.  Had we money!  But of that arm our enemies have deprived us:  and, I fear, without it we cannot hope to have the justice of our cause pleaded in the English papers.  Mr. Redner, you know, the correspondent in Lisbon, is a sworn foe to Silva.  And why but because I would not procure him an invitation to Court!  The man was so horridly vulgar; his gloves were never clean; I had to hold a bouquet to my nose when I talked to him.  That, you say, was my fault!  Truly so.  But what woman can be civil to a low-bred, pretentious, offensive man?’

Mrs. Melville, again appealed to, smiled perfect sympathy, and said, to account for his character: 

’Yes.  He is the son of a small shopkeeper of some kind, in Southampton, I hear.’

‘A very good fellow in his way,’ said her husband.

‘Oh!  I can’t bear that class of people,’ Rose exclaimed.  ’I always keep out of their way.  You can always tell them.’

The Countess smiled considerate approbation of her exclusiveness and discernment.  So sweet a smile!

‘You were on deck early, my dear?’ she asked Evan, rather abruptly.

Master Alec answered for him:  ’Yes, he was, and so was Rose.  They made an appointment, just as they used to do under the oranges.’

‘Children!’ the Countess smiled to Mrs. Melville.

‘They always whisper when I’m by,’ Alec appended.

‘Children!’ the Countess’s sweetened visage entreated Mrs. Melville to re-echo; but that lady thought it best for the moment to direct Rose to look to her packing, now that she had done breakfast.

‘And I will take a walk with my brother on deck,’ said the Countess.  ‘Silva is too harassed for converse.’