Poor Venetia could not answer, her tears were flowing so plenteously.  ‘I have told your father all, sweetest,’ said Cadurcis; ’I concealed nothing.’

‘And what said he?’ murmured Venetia.

’It rests with your mother.  After all that has passed, he will not attempt to control your fate.  And he is right.  Perhaps his interference in my favour might even injure me.  But there is no cause for despair; all I wanted was to come to an understanding with you; to be sure you loved me as you always have done.  I will not be impatient.  I will do everything to soothe and conciliate and gratify Lady Annabel; you will see how I will behave!  As you say, too, we are happy because we are together; and, therefore, it would be unreasonable not to be patient.  I never can be sufficiently grateful for this meeting.  I concluded you would be in England, though we were on our way to Milan to inquire after you.  George has been a great comfort to me in all this affair, Venetia; he loves you, Venetia, almost as much as I do.  I think I should have gone mad during that cursed affair in England, had it not been for George.  I thought you would hate me; but, when George brought me your message, I cared for nothing; and then his visit to the lake was so devilish kind!  He is a noble fellow and a true friend.  My sweet, sweet Venetia, dry your eyes.  Let us rejoin them with a smile.  We have not been long away, I will pretend we have been violet hunting,’ said Cadurcis, stooping down and plucking up a handful of flowers.  ’Do you remember our violets at home, Venetia?  Do you know, Venetia, I always fancy every human being is like some object in nature; and you always put me in mind of a violet so fresh and sweet and delicate!’

CHAPTER VI.

‘We have been exploring the happy valley,’ said Lord Cadurcis to Lady Annabel, ‘and here is our plunder,’ and he gave her the violets.

‘You were always fond of flowers,’ said Lady Annabel.

‘Yes, I imbibed the taste from you,’ said Cadurcis, gratified by the gracious remark.

He seated himself at her feet, examined and admired her work, and talked of old times, but with such infinite discretion, that he did not arouse a single painful association.  Venetia was busied with her father’s poems, and smiled often at the manuscript notes of Cadurcis.  Lying, as usual, on the grass, and leaning his head on his left arm, Herbert was listening to Captain Cadurcis, who was endeavouring to give him a clear idea of the Bosphorus.  Thus the morning wore away, until the sun drove them into the villa.

‘I will show you my library, Lord Cadurcis,’ said Herbert.

Cadurcis followed him into a spacious apartment, where he found a collection so considerable that he could not suppress his surprise.  ‘Italian spoils chiefly,’ said Herbert; ’a friend of mine purchased an old library at Bologna for me, and it turned out richer than I imagined:  the rest are old friends that have been with me, many of them at least, at college.  I brought them back with me from America, for then they were my only friends.’