Laura had
refused him. His feelings now were altogether changed, and why should
not the feelings of Madame Goesler have undergone a similar change?
There was no doubt of her friendship; but then neither was there any
doubt of his for Lady Laura. And in spite of her friendship, would
not revenge be dear to her,--revenge of that nature which a slighted
woman must always desire? He had rejected her, and would it not be
fair also that he should be rejected? "I suppose you'll be in your
own room before lunch to-morrow," he said to her as they separated
for the night. It had come to pass from the constancy of her visits
to Matching in the old Duke's time, that a certain small morning-room
had been devoted to her, and this was still supposed to be her
property,--so that she was not driven to herd with the public or to
remain in her bedroom during all the hours of the morning. "Yes," she
said; "I shall go out immediately after breakfast, but I shall soon
be driven in by the heat, and then I shall be there till lunch. The
Duchess always comes about half-past twelve, to complain generally of
the guests." She answered him quite at her ease, making arrangement
for privacy if he should desire it, but doing so as though she
thought that he wanted to talk to her about his trial, or about
politics, or the place he had just refused. Surely she would hardly
have answered him after such a fashion had she suspected that he
intended to ask her to be his wife.

At a little before noon the next morning he knocked at her door, and
was told to enter. "I didn't go out after all," she said. "I hadn't
courage to face the sun."

"I saw that you were not in the garden."

"If I could have found you I would have told you that I should be
here all the morning. I might have sent you a message, only--only I
didn't."

"I have come--"

"I know why you have come."

"I doubt that. I have come to tell you that I love you."

"Oh Phineas;--at last, at last!" And in a moment she was in his arms.

It seemed to him that from that moment all the explanations, and all
the statements, and most of the assurances were made by her and not
by him. After this first embrace he found himself seated beside her,
holding her hand. "I do not know that I am right," said he.

"Why not right?"

"Because you are rich and I have nothing."

"If you ever remind me of that again I will strike you," she said,
raising up her little fist and bringing it down with gentle pr