rent
life the late John Harmon's, if it had been his happy privilege to take
his place upon that ottoman, and draw his arm about that waist, and say,
'I hope the time has been long without me? What a Home Goddess you look,
my darling!'

But, the present John Rokesmith, far removed from the late John Harmon,
remained standing at a distance. A little distance in respect of space,
but a great distance in respect of separation.

'Mr Rokesmith,' said Bella, taking up her work, and inspecting it all
round the corners, 'I wanted to say something to you when I could have
the opportunity, as an explanation why I was rude to you the other day.
You have no right to think ill of me, sir.'

The sharp little way in which she darted a look at him, half sensitively
injured, and half pettishly, would have been very much admired by the
late John Harmon.

'You don't know how well I think of you, Miss Wilfer.'

'Truly, you must have a very high opinion of me, Mr Rokesmith, when you
believe that in prosperity I neglect and forget my old home.'

'Do I believe so?'

'You DID, sir, at any rate,' returned Bella.

'I took the liberty of reminding you of a little omission into which you
had fallen--insensibly and naturally fallen. It was no more than that.'

'And I beg leave to ask you, Mr Rokesmith,' said Bella, 'why you took
that liberty?--I hope there is no offence in the phrase; it is your own,
remember.'

'Because I am truly, deeply, profoundly interested in you, Miss Wilfer.
Because I wish to see you always at your best. Because I--shall I go
on?'

'No, sir,' returned Bella, with a burning face, 'you have said more than
enough. I beg that you will NOT go on. If you have any generosity, any
honour, you will say no more.'

The late John Harmon, looking at the proud face with the down-cast eyes,
and at the quick breathing as it stirred the fall of bright brown hair
over the beautiful neck, would probably have remained silent.

'I wish to speak to you, sir,' said Bella, 'once for all, and I don't
know how to do it. I have sat here all this evening, wishing to speak to
you, and determining to speak to you, and feeling that I must. I beg for
a moment's time.'

He remained silent, and she remained with her face averted, sometimes
making a slight movement as if she would turn and speak. At length she
did so.

'You know how I am situated here, sir, and you know how I am situated
at home. I must speak to you for myself, since ther