"Jenny should be here in a minute, and before she comes I must tell you

she does not know the importance of our undertaking. She is the servant

to Mrs. Misset, who attends your Highness into Italy. We did not let her

into the secret. We made up a comedy in which you have your parts to

play. Your Highness," and he turned to Clementina, "is a rich Austrian

heiress, deeply enamoured of Captain Lucius O'Toole."

"Captain Lucius O'Toole!" exclaimed the mother, in horror. "My daughter

enamoured of a Captain Lucius O'Toole!"

"He is one of my three companions," said Wogan, imperturbably.

"Moreover, he is six foot four, the most creditable lover in the world."

"Well," said Clementina, with a laugh, "I am deeply enamoured of the

engaging Captain Lucius O'Toole. Go on, sir."

"Your parents are of a most unexampled cruelty. They will not smile upon

the fascinating O'Toole, but have locked you up on bread and water until

you shall agree to marry a wealthy but decrepit gentleman of

eighty-three."

"I will not," cried Clementina; "I will starve myself to death first. I

will marry my six feet four or no other man in Christendom."

"Clementina!" cried her mother, deprecatingly.

"But at this moment," continued Wogan, "there very properly appears the

fairy godmother in the person of a romantical maiden aunt."

"Oh!" said Clementina, "I have a romantical maiden aunt."

"Yes," said Wogan, and turning with a bow to the Princess-mother; "your

Highness."

"I?" she exclaimed, starting up in her chair.

"Your Highness has written an encouraging letter to Captain O'Toole,"

resumed Wogan. The Princess-mother gasped, "A letter to Captain

O'Toole," and she flung up her hands and fell back in her chair.

"On the receipt of the letter Captain O'Toole gathers his friends,

borrows a horse here, a carriage there, and a hundred guineas from

Heaven knows whom, comes to the rescue like a knight-errant, and retells

the old story of how love laughs at locksmiths."

As Wogan ended, the mother rose from her chair. It may have been that

she revolted at the part she was to play; it may have been because a

fiercer gust shook the curtain and bellied it inwards. At all events she

flung the curtain aside; the snow drifted through the open window onto

the floor; outside the open window it was falling like a cascade, and

the air was icy.




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