 ever feel a debt
to Sir Abraham Harrington, of Torquay. I dare say we are related to him. At
least he has done us more service than many a rich and titled relative. No one
supposes he would acknowledge poor Papa. I can forgive him that, Evan!« The
Countess pointed out her finger with mournful and impressive majesty, »As we
look down on that monkey, people of rank and consideration in society look on
what poor dear Papa was.«
    This was partly true, for Jacko sat on a chair, in his favourite attitude,
copied accurately from the workmen of the establishment at their labour with
needle and thread. Growing cognizant of the infamy of his posture, the Countess
begged Evan to drive him out of her sight, and took a sniff at her
smelling-bottle.
    She went on: »Now, dear Van, you would hear of your sweet Rose?«
    »Not a word!« Evan hastily answered.
    »Why, what does this indicate? Whims! Then you do love?«
    »I tell you, Louisa, I don't want to hear a word of any of them,« said Evan,
with an angry gleam in his eyes. »They are nothing to me, nor I to them. I - my
walk in life is not theirs.«
    »Faint heart! faint heart!« the Countess lifted a proverbial forefinger.
    »Thank heaven, I shall have the consolation of not going about, and bowing
and smirking like an impostor!« Evan exclaimed.
    There was a wider intelligence in the Countess's arrested gaze than she
chose to fashion into speech.
    »I knew,« she said, »I knew how the air of this horrible Lymport would act
on you. But while I live, Evan, you shall not sink in the sludge. You, with all
the pains I have lavished on you! and with your presence! - for you have a
presence, so rare among young men in this England! You, who have been to a
Court, and interchanged bows with duchesses, and I know not what besides - nay,
I do not accuse you; but if you had not been a mere boy, and an English boy -
poor Eugenia herself confessed to me that you had a look - a tender cleaving of
the under-lids - that made her catch her hand to her heart sometimes: it
reminded her so acutely of false Belmaraña. Could you have had a greater
compliment than that? You shall not stop here another day!«
    »True,« said Evan
