第35章

"I am very glad to hear it; but I knew that it was in me long before I ever dreamed of knowing you.Are you not anxious to know something about the future Lady Kingsley's past history?""It will all come in good time; it is not well to have a surfeit of joy in one night.

"I do not know that this will add to your joy; but it had better be told and be done with, at once and forever.In the first place, I presume I am an orphan, for I have never known father or mother, and I have never had any other name but Leoline.""So Ormiston told me."

"My first recollection is of Prudence; she was my nurse and governess, both in one; and we lived in a cottage by the sea - Idon't know where, but a long way from this.When I was about ten years old, we left it, and came to London, and lived in a house in Cheapside, for five or six years; and then we moved here.And all this time, Sir Norman you will think it strange - but I never made any friends or acquaintances, and knew no one but Prudence and an old Italian professor, who came to our lodgings in Cheapside, every week, to give me lessons.It was not because Idisliked society, you must know; but Prudence, with all her kindness and goodness - and I believe she truly loves me - has been nothing more or less all my life than my jailer."She paused to clasp a belt of silver brocade, fastened by a pearl buckle, close around her little waist, and Sir Norman fixed his eyes upon her beautiful face, with a powerful glance.

"Knew no one - that is strange, Leoline! Not even the Count L'Estrange?""Ah! you know him?" she cried eagerly, lifting her eyes with a bright look; "do - do tell me who he is?""Upon my honor, my dear," said Sir Norman, considerably taken aback, "it strikes me you are the person to answer that question.

If I don't greatly mistake, somebody told me you were going to marry him.""Oh, so I was," said Leoline, with the utmost simplicity."But Idon't know him, for all that; and more than that, Sir Norman, Ido not believe his name is Count L'Estrange, any more than mine in!""Precisely my opinion; but why, in the name of - no, I'll not swear; but why were you going to marry him, Leoline?"Leoline half pouted, and shrugged her pretty pink satin shoulders.

"Because I couldn't help it - that's why.He coaxed, and coaxed;and I said no, and no, and no, until I got tired of it.

Prudence, too, was as bad as he was, until between them I got about distracted, and at last consented to marry him to get rid of him.""My poor, persecuted little darling! Oh," cried Sir Norman, with a burst of enthusiasm, "how I should admire to have Count L'Estrange here for about tea minutes, just now! I world spoil his next wooing for him, or I am mistaken!""No, no!" said Leoline, looking rather alarmed; "you must not fight, you know.I shouldn't at all like either of you to get killed.Besides, he has not married me; and so there's no harm done."Sir Norman seemed rather struck by that view of the case, and after a few moments reflection on it, came to the conclusion that she knew best, and settled down peaceably again.

"Why do you suppose his name is not Count L'Estrange?" he asked.