 only reason is that you love me!« he murmured,
with an eloquent gesture, and for want of a better reason Madame de Cintré
reconciled herself to this one.
 
Newman came back the next day, and in the vestibule, as he entered the house, he
encountered his friend Mrs. Bread. She was wandering about in honourable
idleness, and when his eyes fell upon her she delivered him one of her curtsies.
Then turning to the servant who had admitted him, she said, with the combined
majesty of her native superiority and of a rugged English accent: »You may
retire; I will have the honour of conducting monsieur.« In spite of this
combination, however, it appeared to Newman that her voice had a slight quaver,
as if the tone of command were not habitual to it. The man gave her an
impertinent stare, but he walked slowly away, and she led Newman upstairs. At
half its course the staircase gave a bend, forming a little platform. In the
angle of the wood stood an indifferent statue of an eighteenth-century nymph,
simpering, sallow, and cracked. Here Mrs. Bread stopped and looked with shy
kindness at her companion.
    »I know the good news, sir,« she murmured.
    »You have a good right to be first to know it,« said Newman. »You have taken
such a friendly interest.«
    Mrs. Bread turned away and began to blow the dust off the statue, as if this
might be mockery.
    »I suppose you want to congratulate me,« said Newman. »I am greatly
obliged.« And then he added: »You gave me much pleasure the other day.«
    She turned round, apparently reassured. »You are not to think that I have
been told anything,« she said; »I have only guessed. But when I looked at you,
as you came in, I was sure I had guessed aright.«
    »You are very sharp,« said Newman. »I am sure that in your quiet way you see
everything.«
    »I am not a fool, sir, thank Cod. I have guessed something else beside,«
said Mrs. Bread.
    »What's that?«
    »I needn't tell you that, sir; I don't think you would believe it. At any
rate it wouldn't please you.«
    »Oh, tell me nothing but what will please me,« laughed Newman. »That is the
way you began.«
    »Well, sir, I suppose you
