There was an uneasy, chilling pause. Miss Maitland would have given
something to withdraw her last shot. Fanny was very uncomfortable and
fixed her eyes on the table. Zoe, deeply shocked at Severne's deceit, was
now amazed and puzzled about her brother. "Ina Klosking!" inquired she;
"who is that?"
"Ask Mr. Severne," said Miss Maitland, sturdily.
Now Mr. Severne was sitting silent, but with restless eyes, meditating
how he should get over that figment of his about the sick friend.
Zoe turned round on him, fixed her glorious eyes full upon his face, and
said, rather imperiously, "Mr. Severne, who is Ina Klosking?"
Mr. Severne looked up blankly in her face, and said nothing.
She colored at not being answered, and repeated her question (all this
time Fanny's eyes were fixed on the young man even more keenly than
Zoe's), "Who--and what--is Ina Klosking?"
"She is a public singer."
"Do you know her?"
"Yes; I heard her sing at Vienna."
"Yes, yes; but do you know her to speak to?"
He considered half a moment, and then said he had not that honor. "But,"
said he, rather hurriedly, "somebody or other told me she had come out at
the opera here and made a hit.
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