Subtle Severne counted on this, and was not
disappointed. Zoe rewarded him for his praises, and her happiness, by
falling into his views about Rhoda Gale. Only she did it in her own
lady-like way, and not plump.
She came up to Harrington and kissed him, and said, "Thank you, dear, for
sending me on a good errand. I found her in a very mean apartment,
without fire or candle."
"I thought as much," said Vizard.
"Did she take the money?"
"Yes--as a loan."
"Make any difficulties?"
"A little, dear."
Severne put in his word. "Now, if you want to know all the tact and
delicacy with which it was done, you must come to me; for Miss Vizard is
not going to give you any idea of it."
"Be quiet, sir, or I shall be very angry. I lent her the money, dear, and
her troubles are at an end; for her mother will certainly join her before
she has spent your twenty pounds. Oh! and she had not parted with her
ring; that is a comfort, is it not?"
"You are a good-hearted girl, Zoe," said Vizard, approvingly; then,
recovering himself, "But don't you be blinded by sentiment. She deserves
a good hiding for not parting with her ring. Where is the sense of
starving, with thirty pounds on your finger?"
Zoe smiled, and said his words were harder than his deeds.
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