Page:Elizabeth's Pretenders.djvu/234

Rh have been passages between them. You will see. She will marry this lord."

"I am told he talks very cleverly, and that must be attractive to her," said his sister, wickedly.

"Oh! of course—and the title, too!" he sneered.

"That is an insinuation quite unworthy of you. If Elizabeth marries this lord, it will be because she likes him better than any one else—for no other reason."

"She has a large circle to choose from!"

"I wish you would make it a little larger," murmured the sick woman. And then she turned round, and would not speak another word.

Just before luncheon the same day George received a telegram.

"Still a prisoner. Better come at once. Urgent business waiting.—."

The bell rang, and he went down to the dining-room. No one was there but Madame Martineau, who was warming her feet at the wood fire by lifting her black silk petticoat, and extending first one fat leg and then the other towards the flame. She smiled benignantly at him; he made himself so universally pleasant, and paid his weekly account so regularly.

"I am sorry to say, madame," he began, with a grave inclinaftion of his head, "that I have to leave you this afternoon. I am called back suddenly to England."

"Ah! mon Dieu! What is that you tell me? Called back?"

"Yes, madame; there is no help for it. I have been here three weeks to-day. I hoped it would have been