little sitting-room on the ground floor in which the old Duke
used to take delight. Here he found two ladies,--but only two
ladies,--waiting to receive him. The Duchess came forward to welcome
him, while Madame Goesler remained in the background, with composed
face,--as though she by no means expected his arrival and he had
chanced to come upon them as she was standing by the window. He was
thinking of her much more than of her companion, though he knew also
how much he owed to the kindness of the Duchess. But what she had
done for him had come from caprice, whereas the other had been
instigated and guided by affection. He understood all that, and must
have shown his feeling on his countenance. "Yes, there she is," said
the Duchess, laughing. She had already told him that he was welcome
to Matching, and had spoken some short word of congratulation at his
safe deliverance from his troubles. "If ever one friend was grateful
to another, you should be grateful to her, Mr. Finn." He did not
speak, but walking across the room to the window by which Marie
Goesler stood, took her right hand in his, and passing his left arm
round her waist, kissed her first on one cheek and then on the other.
The blood flew to her face and suffused her forehead, but she did not
speak, or resist him or make any effort to escape from his embrace.
As for him, he had no thought of it at all. He had made no plan. No
idea of kissing her when they should meet had occurred to him till
the moment came. "Excellently well done," said the Duchess, still
laughing with silent pleasant laughter. "And now tell us how you are,
after all your troubles."

He remained with them for half an hour, till the ladies went to
dress, when he was handed over to some groom of the chambers to show
him his room. "The Duke ought to be here to welcome you, of course,"
said the Duchess; "but you know official matters too well to expect
a President of the Board of Trade to do his domestic duties. We dine
at eight; five minutes before that time he will begin adding up his
last row of figures for the day. You never added up rows of figures,
I think. You only managed colonies." So they parted till dinner, and
Phineas remembered how very little had been spoken by Madame Goesler,
and how few of the words which he had spoken had been addressed to
her. She had sat silent, smiling, radiant, very beautiful as he had
thought, but contented to listen to her friend the Duchess. She, the
Duc