1898.]
I have come to ." She was utterly confused.
" Probably to induce me to retract my orders that a certain
young man in my employ must exchange places with another."
Rosa's face suffused with color.
" That would be scarcely worth the trouble."
" Not? Or would it please you to have me dismiss the same
young man on New Year's ?" •
" Will you do so?"
" It is my privilege," lie mockingly replied
Rosa breathed heavily, but she answered quietly: "Then he'll
find employment elsewhere. Competent and industrious young
men like he are desired everywhere."
" Certainly! certainly! especially such as neglect their duties
to run after the girls."
She stood motionless, silent, and with shining eyes. He laughed
maliciously at her: " Don't you wonder how I know it ?"
" That is not difficult to understand. You were eavesdropping
and are not ashamed to confess it."
" The stairs are free to all so far as I know. 'Tisn't very
pleasant to have others discover one's private affairs, is it."
Her eyes began to glitter. Do you believe that lam ashamed
on that account? When two have won the love of each other
wherefore should they be ashamed to confess it ?"
" Even in the evening, upon the stairs?" he interrogated, tan
talizingly,
" Even in the evening, upon the stairs," she repeated assertive
ly. " Love does not question when or where. But then,"
and her lips curled contemptuously, " what do you know about
love ? You do not appear as though you could ever have loved
any one."
" What surprises me is that in spite of that you should include
the ' Old bugbear' in your calculations. I have yet to thank you
for the kind invitation to your wedding."
Rosa was trembling with excitement. "If we had hoped to
depend upon you, this much should be apparent, that we
thought more of you than what you prove to be, and that we be
lieved you had a noble heart in spite of your gruff manner. But
we were mistaken. Not content with playing the spy, something
which no gentleman would do, you use what you have overheard
to mock and to shame us because we have innocently incurred
Chrisfinaslide