"You contradict yourself! You said just now that you believed I had left
Baden."

"That was an artificial--a conventional speech. Is n't a lady always
supposed to say something of that sort to a visitor by way of pretending
to have noticed that she has not seen him?"

"You know I would never have left Baden without coming to bid you
good-bye," said Bernard.

The girl made no rejoinder; she stood looking out at the little sunny,
slanting, rough-paved German street.

"Are you taking care of us now?" she asked in a moment. "Has the
operation begun? Have you heard the news, mamma?" she went on. "Do you
know that Mr. Wright has made us over to Mr. Longueville, to be kept
till called for? Suppose Mr. Wright should never call for us!"

Mrs. Vivian left her writing-table and came toward Bernard, smiling at
him and pressing her hands together.

"There is no fear of that, I think," she said. "I am sure I am very glad
we have a gentleman near us. I think you will be a very good care-taker,
Mr. Longueville, and I recommend my daughter to put great faith in
your judgment." And Mrs. Vivian gave him an intense--a pleading, almost
affecting--little smile.

"I am greatly touched by your confidence and I shall do everything I can
think of to merit it," said the young man.