"You didn't!" cried the other, acting vast surprise. "Then what _did_ you
come for?"
"I don't know; and I wish I hadn't come."
"That I believe." Rhoda shot this in like an arrow.
"But," continued Severne, "if I hadn't, nobody would; for it is Vizard's
justicing day, and the ladies are too taken up with a lord to come and
meet such vulgar trifles as genius and learning and sci--"
"Come, come!" said Rhoda, contemptuously; "you care as little about
science and learning and genius as I possess them. You won't tell me?
Well, I shall find you out." Then, after a pause, "Who is this lord?"
"Lord Uxmoor."
"What kind of a lord is he?"
"A very bushy lord."
"Bushy?--oh, bearded like the pard! Now tell me," said she, "is he
cutting you out with Miss Vizard?"
"You shall judge for yourself. Please spare me on that one topic--if you
ever spared anybody in your life."
"Oh, dear me!" said Rhoda, coolly. "I'm not so very cruel. I'm only a
little vindictive and cat-like. If people offend me, I like to play with
them a bit, and amuse myself, and then kill them--kill them--kill them;
that is all."
This pretty little revelation of character was accompanied with a cruel
smile that showed a long row of dazzling white teeth.
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