Page:The Princess Casamassima (London and New York, Macmillan & Co., 1886), Volume 3.djvu/76

 should I be so gay?' the Princess asked. 'I should be delighted to see you again. I am extremely curious as to what you may have to say to me. I would even meet you anywhere—in Kensington Gardens or the British Museum.'

The fiddler looked at her a moment before replying; then, with his white old face flushing a little, he exclaimed, 'Poor dear little Hyacinth!'

Madame Grandoni made an effort to rise from her chair, but she had sunk so low that at first it was not successful. Mr. Vetch gave her his hand, to help her, and she slowly erected herself, keeping hold of him for a moment after she stood there. 'What did she tell me? That you are a great musician? Isn't that enough for any man? You ought to be content, my dear gentleman. It has sufficed for people whom I don't believe you surpass.'

'I don't surpass any one,' said poor Mr. Vetch. 'I don't know what you take me for.'

'You are not a conspirator, then? You are not an assassin? It surprises me, but so much the better. In this house one can never know. It is not a good house, and if you are a respectable person it is a pity you should come here. Yes, she is very gay, and I am very sad. I don't know how it will end. After me, I hope. The world is not good, certainly; but God alone can make it better.' And as the fiddler expressed the hope that he was not the cause of her leaving the room, she went on, 'Doch, doch, you are the cause; but why not you as well as another? I am always leaving it for some one or for some thing, and I would sooner do so for an honest man, if you are one—but, as I say, who can tell?—than for a destroyer. I wander about. I have no rest. I have, however, a very