XXIV

ldhavefoundinmeafriendalwaysreadytoassistyou.DoyouthinkthatyouruncleorIshouldnothaveespousedyourcauseaswarmlyasmybrother?”“Indeed,Ididnotdoubtyourkindness,”saidshe,colouringagain,“butIthoughtMr.DeCourcycoulddoanythingwithmymotherbutIwasmistaken:theyhavehadadreadfulquarrelaboutit,andheisgoingaway.Mammawillneverforgiveme,andIshallbeworseoffthanever.”“No,youshallnot,”Ireplied“insuchapointasthisyourmother’sprohibitionoughtnottohavepreventedyourspeakingtomeonthesubject.Shehasnorighttomakeyouunhappy,andsheshallnotdoit.Yourapplying,however,toReginaldcanbeproductiveonlyofgoodtoallparties.Ibelieveitisbestasitis.Dependuponitthatyoushallnotbemadeunhappyanylonger.”AtthatmomenthowgreatwasmyastonishmentatseeingReginaldcomeoutofLadySusan’sdressing-room.Myheartmisgavemeinstantly.Hisconfusionatseeingmewasveryevident.Fredericaimmediatelydisappeared.“Areyougoing?”Isaid“youwillfindMr.Vernoninhisownroom.”“No,Catherine,”hereplied,“Iamnotgoing.Willyouletmespeaktoyouamoment?”Wewentintomyroom.“Ifind,”hecontinued,hisconfusionincreasingashespoke,“thatIhavebeenactingwithmyusualfoolishimpetuosity.IhaveentirelymisunderstoodLadySusan,andwasonthepointofleavingthehouseunderafalseimpressionofherconduct.Therehasbeensomeverygreatmistakewehavebeenallmistaken,Ifancy.Fredericadoesnotknowhermother.LadySusanmeansnothingbuthergood,butshewillnotmakeafriendofher.LadySusandoesnotalwaysknow,therefore,whatwillmakeherdaughterhappy.Besides,Icouldhavenorighttointerfere.MissVernonwasmistakeninapplyingtome.Inshort,Catherine,everythinghasgonewrong,butitisnowallhappilysettled.LadySusan,Ibelieve,wishestospeaktoyouaboutit,ifyouareatleisure.”“Certainly,”Ireplied,deeplysighingattherecitalofsolameastory.Imadenocomments,however,forwordswouldhavebeenvain. Reginaldwasgladtogetaway,andIwenttoLadySusan,curious,indeed,tohearheraccountofit.“DidInottellyou,”saidshewithasmile,“thatyourbrotherwouldnotleaveusafterall?”“Youdid,indeed,”repliedIverygravely“butIflatteredmyselfyouwouldbemistaken.”“Ishouldnothavehazardedsuchanopinion,”returnedshe,“ifithadnotatthatmoment