She blushed very red and
looked brave.
"Because of Jack!" she said.
"Ah!"
"Nothing is settled," added the young girl, "but it is no use pretending
not to know!"
"It is no use," he repeated very sadly.
And then for a little while they listened to the bird.
"Mees Goneril," said the signorino at last, "do you know why I brought
you out here?"
"Not at all," she answered.
It was a minute before he spoke again.
"I am going to Rome to-morrow," he said, "and I wanted to bid you
good-bye. You will sing to me to-night, as it will be the last time?"
"Oh, I hope not the last time!"
"Yes, yes," he said a little testily; "unless--and I pray it may not be
so--unless you ever need the help of an old friend."
"Dear Signor Graziano!"
"And now you will sing me my 'Nobil Amore'?"
"I will do anything you like!"
The signorino sighed and looked at her for a minute. Then he led her
into the little parlour where Madame Petrucci was singing shrilly in the
twilight.
A. MARY F. ROBINSON.
OUT OF THE SEASON.
"But why not? There isn't a soul in London--who's to see? What harm is
there in it?"
"Oh, none of course--a cup of tea is a cup of tea, and whether you drink
it here or there, what matter!--only--well, the thing I think of is,
would Rowley mind?"
"Mind his own business, I should say, rather I That's what they have to
swear to do in the marriage service, haven't they?"
The lady to whom this question was addressed, Mrs.
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