 cried Rose. »And do you know this to be true?«
    »So when you talk of gentlemen, Rose, please be careful whom you include.«
    »I mustn't include poor Mr. Harrington? Then my Grandpapa Bonner is out of
the list, and such numbers of good worthy men?«
    Mrs. Shorne understood the hit at the defunct manufacturer. She said: »You
must most distinctly give me your promise, while this young adventurer remains
here - I think it will not be long - not to be compromising yourself further, as
you now do. Or - indeed I must - I shall let your parents perceive that such
conduct is ruin to a young girl in your position, and certainly you will be sent
to Elburne House for the winter.«
    Rose lifted her hands, crying: »Ye Gods! - as Harry says. But I 'm very much
obliged to you, my dear aunt. Concerning Mr. Harrington, wonderfully obliged.
Son of a small -! Is it a t-t-tailor, aunt?«
    »It is - I have heard.«
    »And that is much worse. Cloth is viler than cotton! And don't they call
these creatures sn-snips? Some word of that sort?«
    »It makes little difference what they are called.«
    »Well, aunt, I sincerely thank you. As this subject seems to interest you,
go and see Mama, now. She can tell you a great deal more: and, if you want her
authority, come back to me.«
    Rose then left her aunt in a state of extreme indignation. It was a clever
move to send Mrs. Shorne to Lady Jocelyn. They were antagonistic, and, rational
as Lady Jocelyn was, and with her passions under control, she was unlikely to
side with Mrs. Shorne.
    Now Rose had fought against herself, and had, as she thought, conquered. In
Portugal Evan's half insinuations had given her small suspicions, which the
scene on board the Jocasta had half confirmed: and since she came to communicate
with her own mind, she bore the attack of all that rose against him, bit by bit.
She had not been too blind to see the unpleasantness of the fresh facts revealed
to her. They did not change her; on the contrary, drew her to him faster - and
she thought she had completely conquered whatever could rise against him. But
when Juliana Bonner told her that day that Evan was not only the son of the
thing, but the thing himself,
