Then, after giving him plenty of
time to answer, "Well, then, I must be mistaken;" and her words seemed to
freeze themselves and her as they fell.
She turned her back on him, and said to Zoe, with a good deal of
sweetness and weight, "I have lived to see goodness and beauty united. I
will never despair of human nature."
This was too pointblank for Zoe; she blushed crimson, and said archly, "I
think it is time for me to run. Oh, but I forgot; here is my card. We are
all at that hotel. If I am so very attractive, you will come and see
me--we leave town very soon--will you?"
"I will," said Rhoda.
"And since you took me for an old acquaintance, I hope you will treat me
as one," said Severne, with consummate grace and assurance.
"I will, _sir,"_ said she, icily, and with a marvelous curl of the lip
that did not escape him.
She lighted them down the stairs, gazed after Zoe, and ignored Severne
altogether.
CHAPTER XV.
GOING home in the carriage, Zoe was silent, but Severne talked nineteen
to the dozen. Had his object been to hinder his companion's mind from
dwelling too long on one thing, he could not have rattled the dice of
small talk more industriously.
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