On reading it, he was surprised into an
exclamation, and his face expressed great concern.
"Oh!" said Zoe-- "Harrington!"
Harrington's attention being thus drawn, he said, "No bad news, I hope?"
"Yes," said Uxmoor, in a low voice, "very bad. My oldest, truest, dearest
friend has been seized with small-pox, and his life is in danger. He has
asked for me, poor fellow. This is from his sister. I must start by the
twelve o'clock train."
"Small-pox! Why, it is contagious," cried Fanny; "and so disfiguring!"
"I can't help that," said the honest fellow; and instantly rang the bell
for his servant, and gave the requisite orders.
Zoe, whose eye had never left him all the time, said, softly, "It is
brave and good of you. We poor, emotional, cowardly girls should sit down
and cry."
_"You_ would not, Miss Vizard," said he, firmly, looking full at her. "If
you think you would, you don't know yourself."
Zoe colored high, and was silent.
Then Lord Uxmoor showed the true English gentleman. "I do hope," said he,
earnestly, though in a somewhat broken voice, "that you will not let this
spoil the pleasure we had planned together.
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