conjure up this wonderful image of a love-affair between her own sister
and her own suitor. We know that Gertrude had an imaginative mind; so
that it is not impossible that this effort should have been partially
successful. But she only murmured, "Ah, Felix! ah, Felix!"

"Why should n't they marry? Try and make them marry!" cried Felix.

"Try and make them?"

"Turn the tables on them. Then they will leave you alone. I will help
you as far as I can."

Gertrude's heart began to beat; she was greatly excited; she had never
had anything so interesting proposed to her before. Felix had begun to
row again, and he now sent the boat home with long strokes. "I believe
she does care for him!" said Gertrude, after they had disembarked.

"Of course she does, and we will marry them off. It will make them
happy; it will make every one happy. We shall have a wedding and I will
write an epithalamium."

"It seems as if it would make me happy," said Gertrude.

"To get rid of Mr. Brand, eh? To recover your liberty?"

Gertrude walked on. "To see my sister married to so good a man."

Felix gave his light laugh. "You always put things on those grounds; you
will never say anything for yourself. You are all so afraid, here, of
being selfish. I don't think you know how," he went on. "Let me show
you! It will make me happy for myself, and for just the reverse of what
I told you a while ago. After that, when I make love to you, you will
have to think I mean it."

"I shall never think you mean anything," said Gertrude. "You are too
fantastic."

"Ah," cried Felix, "that 's a license to say everything! Gertrude, I
adore you!"

CHAPTER VIII

Charlotte and Mr. Brand had not returned when they reached the house;
but the Baroness had come to tea, and Robert Acton also, who now
regularly asked for a place at this generous repast or made his
appearance later in the evening. Clifford Wentworth, with his juvenile
growl, remarked upon it.

"You are always coming to tea nowadays, Robert," he said. "I should
think you had drunk enough tea in China."

"Since when is Mr. Acton more frequent?" asked the Baroness.

"Since you came," said Clifford. "It seems as if you were a kind of
attraction."

"I suppose I am a curiosity," said the Baroness. "Give me time and I
will make you a salon."

"It would fall to pieces after you go!" exclaimed Acton.

"Don't talk about her going, in that familiar way," Clifford said. "It
makes me feel