ings and queens, knights and
bishops. Unconsciously, also, she taught as well as learned; for a
young lovable woman, be she coquette or _ingenue_, can teach a man all
the romances; this is indeed her nature, her genius, the song flowing
from her and returning never again.

After lunch Rose took Adriana away, with an air of mystery. "I have
had a most important letter," she said, with a sigh, "from poor
Dick--Dick Duval! He is simply broken-hearted. And Dick has quite a
temper, he does not like suffering so much. I feel that I really ought
to see him."

"When is he coming, Rose?"

"He can _never_ come here. All my family are against Dick. Harry
quarrelled openly with him at the club; and papa--who hardly ever
interferes in anything--met him in the hall one night, and opened the
front door for him."

"What does Mrs. Filmer say?"

"Mamma says Dick is a physical gentleman and a moral scamp; and she
forbids me to speak or write to him. That is the whole situation,
Yanna."

"It is a very plain one, Rose. There is nothing to discuss in it. You
ought not to answer his letter at all."

"Dick says he will blow his brains out, if I do not see him."

"How absurd!"

"You do not know what love is, Yanna."

"Do you, Rose?"

"Not unless I am in love with Dick."

"I am sure you are not in love with Dick. You are far too conscientious,
far too morally beautiful yourself, to be in love with a moral scamp. I
know that you would not do anything deliberately wrong, Rose."

"Do not swear by me, Yanna. I cannot swear by myself. I have actually
told Dick that I will meet him next Monday--at your house."

"Indeed, Rose, you must destroy that letter."

"It is a beautiful letter. I spent two hours over it."

"Tear it into fifty pieces."

"But Dick can call at your house, and I will just 'happen in.' There
is no harm in that. You can be present all the time, if you wish."

"I will ask father. Of course, I must tell him the circumstances."

"And of course, he will go into a passion about his honor, and his
honor to Mr. Filmer, and all the other moralities. You are real mean,
Yanna."

"I am real kind, Rose. Please give me the letter. You know that you
are going to do a wicked and foolish thing. Rose, I have always
thought you a very angel of purity and propriety. I cannot imagine a
man like this touching the hem of your garment. Give me the letter,
Rose. Positively, it must not go to him."

"I want to do right, Yanna."