If she did not set herself resolutely to feign proud indifference, she felt that she must fall into a passionate outburst of despair, which would cut her mamma more deeply than all the rest of their calamities.
"Your uncle and aunt were disappointed at not seeing you" said Mrs Davilow, coming near the piano, and watching Gwendolen's movements. I only said that you wanted rest."
"Quite right, mamma," said Gwendolen, in the same tone, turning to put away some music.
"Am I not to know anything now, Gwendolen? Am I always to be in the dark?" said Mrs Davilow, too keenly sensitive to her daughter's manner and expression not to fear that something painful had occurred.
"There is really nothing to tell now, mamma," said Gwendolen, in a still higher voice. "I had a mistaken idea about something I could do. Herr Klesmer has undeceived me. That is all."
"Don't look and speak in that way, my dear child: I cannot bear it," said Mrs Davilow, breaking down. She felt an undefinable terror.
Gwendolen looked at her a moment in silence, biting her inner lip; then she went up to her, and putting her hands on her mamma's shoulders, said with a drop of her voice to the lowest under-
