re began to arise no end
of wild hopes, which, however, were as quickly dispelled. The question
arose, What brought him there? There seemed to her but one answer, and
that was his infatuation for Minnie. Yet to her, as well as to Lady
Dalrymple, it seemed very singular that he should be so warm a friend
to Minnie's tormentor. It was a puzzling thing. Perhaps he did not
know that the Baron was Minnie's lover. Perhaps he thought that his
friend would give her up, and he could win her. Amidst these thoughts
there came a wild hope that perhaps he did not love Minnie so very
much, after all. But this hope soon was dispelled as she recalled the
events of the past, and reflected on his cool and easy indifference to
every thing connected with her.

Such emotions as these actuated the ladies; and when the guests had
gone they joined their aunt once more, and deliberated. Minnie took no
part in the debate, but sat apart, looking like an injured being.
There was among them all the same opinion, and that was that it was
all a clumsy device of the Baron's to frighten them back to Rome. Such
being their opinion, they did not occupy much time in debating about
their course on the morrow. The idea of going back did not enter their
heads.

This event gave a much more agreeable feeling to Mrs. Willoughby and
Lady Dalrymple than they had known since they had been aware that the
Baron had followed them. They felt that they had grappled with the
difficulty. They had met the enemy and defeated him. Besides, the
presence of Hawbury was of itself a guarantee of peace. There could be
no further danger of any unpleasant scenes while Hawbury was with him.
Girasole's presence, also, was felt to be an additional guarantee of
safety.

It was felt by all to be a remarkable circumstance that so many men
should have followed them on what they had intended as quite a secret
journey. These gentlemen who followed them were the very ones, and the
only ones, from whom they wished to conceal it. Yet it had all been
revealed to them, and lo! here they all were. Some debate arose as to
whether it would not be better to go back to Rome now, and defy the
Baron, and leave by another route. But this debate was soon given up,
and they looked forward to the journey as one which might afford new
and peculiar enjoyment.

On the following morning they started at an early hour. Girasole left
about half an hour after them, and passed them a few miles along the
road