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And indeed； as far as happiness went； there was not much to choose
between them； I fancy； for Gertrude Morley looked radiant； and in her
clove…like eyes there was the reflection of the love which flashed in his。
〃You must talk to my mother about it；〃 she said after a minute's silence。
〃You see； I am still under age； and she and Uncle Henry my guardian must
consent before we are actually betrothed。〃
〃I will see them at once；〃 said Zaluski； eagerly。
〃You could see my mother；〃 she replied。 〃But Uncle Henry is still in
Sweden and will not be in town for another week。〃
〃Must we really wait so long！〃 sighed Sigismund impatiently。
She laughed at him gently。
〃A whole week！ But then we are sure of each other。 I do not think
we ought to grumble。〃
〃But perhaps they may think that a merchant is no fitting match for
you；〃 he suggested。 〃I am nothing but a plain merchant； and my I people
have been in the same business for four generations。 As far as wealth
goes I might perhaps satisfy your people； but for the rest I am but a prosaic
fellow； with neither noble blood； nor the brain of a genius； nor anything
out of the common。〃
〃It will be enough for my mother that we love each other；〃 she said
shyly。
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SLANDER
〃And your uncle？〃
〃It will be enough for him that you are upright and honourable
enough that you are yourself； Sigismund。〃
They were sitting now in a little sheltered recess clipped out of the
yew…trees。 When that softly spoken 〃Sigismund〃 fell from her lips；
Zaluski caught her in his arms and kissed her again and again。
〃I have led such a lonely life；〃 he said after a few minutes； during
which their talk had baffled my comprehension。 〃All my people died
while I was still a boy。〃
〃Then who brought you up？〃 she inquired。
〃An uncle of mine； the head of our firm in St。 Petersburg。 He was
very good to me； but he had children of his own； and of course I could not
be to him as one of them。 I have had many friends and much kindness
shown to me； but love！none till to…day。〃
And then again they fell into the talk which I could not fathom。 And so
I left them in their brief happiness； for my time of idleness was over； and I
was ordered to attend Mrs。 Milton…Cleave without a moment's delay。
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SLANDER
MY FOURTH STAGE
Oh； the little more； and how much it is！ R。 BROWING。
Mrs。 Milton…Cleave had one weaknessshe was possessed by an
inordinate desire for influence。 This made her always eagerly anxious to
be interesting both in her conversation and in her letters； and to this end
she exerted herself with unwearying activity。 She liked influencing Mr。
Blackthorne； and spared no pains on him that afternoon； and indeed the
curate was a good deal flattered by her friendship； and considered her one
of the most clever and charming women he had ever met。
Sigismund and Gertrude returned to the ordinary world just as Mrs。
Milton…Cleave was saying good…bye to the hostess。 She glanced at them
searchingly。
〃Good…bye； Gertrude；〃 she said a little coldly。 〃Did you win at
tennis？〃
〃Indeed we did；〃 said Gertrude； smiling。 〃We came off with flying
colours。 It was a love set。〃
The girl was looking more beautiful than ever； and there was a tell…
tale colour in her cheeks and an unusual light in her soft grey eyes。 As
for Zaluski； he was so evidently in love； and had the audacity to look so
supremely happy； that Mrs。 Milton…Cleave was more than ever impressed
with the gravity of the situation。 The curate handed her into her victoria；
and she drove home through the sheltered lanes musing sadly over the
story she had heard； and wondering what Gertrude's future would be。
When she reached home； however； the affair was driven from her thoughts
by her children； of whom she was devotedly fond。 They came running to
meet her； frisking like so many kittens round her as she went upstairs to
her room； and begging to stay with her while she dressed for dinner。
During dinner she was engrossed with her husband； but afterwards； when
she was alone in the drawing…room； I found my opportunity for working
on her restless mind。
〃Dear me；〃 she exclaimed； throwing aside the newspaper she had just
taken up； 〃I ought to write to Mrs。 Selldon at Dulminster about that G。F。S。
girl！〃
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SLANDER
As a matter of fact she ought not to have written then； the letter might
well have waited till the morning； and she was over…tired and needed rest。
But I was glad to see her take up her pen； for I knew I should come in
most conveniently to fill up the second side of the sheet。
Before long Jane Stiggins； the member who had migrated from
Muddleton to Dulminster； had been duly reported； wound up； and made
over to the Archdeacon's wife。 Then the tired hand paused。 What more
could she say to her friend？
〃We are leading our usual quiet life here；〃 she wrote； 〃with the
ordinary round of tennis parties and picnics to enliven us。 The children
have all been wonderfully well； and I think you will see a great
improvement in your god…daughter when you next come to stay with us〃
〃Oh dear！〃 sighed Mrs。 Milton…Cleave； 〃how dull and stupid I am to…night！
I can't think of a single thing to say。〃 Then at length I flashed into her
mind； and with a sigh of relief and a little rising flush of excitement she
went on much more rapidly。
〃It is such a comfort to be quite at rest about them； and to see them all
looking so well。 But I suppose one can never be without some cause of
worry； and just now I am very unhappy about that nice girl Gertrude
Morley whom you admired so much when you were last here。 The
whole neighbourhood has been dominated this year by a youn