Notwithstanding the ardent vow which I had made before dinner, I did
spend that night under the Grays' roof. I not only spent it there, but
I slept profoundly in the luxurious bed in my large and luxurious
chamber. In my sleep I dreamt of Tom Valentine. I was with him in
Africa; I was going through adventures by his side. After the
extraordinary fashion of dreams, there seemed nothing at all remarkable
to me in the fact that Tom and I were going through peril together. It
seemed to me, in my dream, that we were following a somewhat forlorn
hope, and that the same spirit animated us both. I dreamt nothing at
all about Cousin Geoffrey's will.
When the morning broke I thought over the visions of the night and
determined to banish them. Tom Valentine was going to Africa in a week.
I should probably never see him more. Well, never mind, he was a brave
and interesting man. I was glad to think he liked to talk to me; that
he, the hero of many an adventure, thought me a good listener--thought
it worth his while to thrill my ears and heart with stories both of
peril and of sadness. I was glad to know that in a very distant degree
I could claim cousinship with Tom Valentine. I determined not to
associate him with Cousin Geoffrey's odious will. This will degraded my
cousin. I would think of him apart from it in future. I believed
myself quite strong enough to carry out the resolve.
Soon after breakfast that day a pretty little victoria, drawn by a pair
of ponies, stopped at the Grays' house. I was in my room at the moment
and had a good view of the carriage sweep. I bent from my window to see
who had arrived. Lady Ursula Redmayne sat in the victoria.
A moment or two later I was summoned to see this capricious young woman.
I felt certain that she was devoured with curiosity, but I was
determined to parry all her questions.
Lady Ursula was alone in the drawing-room when I entered.
"How do you do, Rosamund?" she said. "You did not expect me to find you
out here: but of course Rupert and Tom told me all about you. Sit down
there, where I can take a good look at you. Rosamund, what a remarkably
wicked young woman you are."
"I don't understand you, Lady Ursula."
"Please call me Ursula. We shall be cousins when I am Rupert
Valentine's wife. Do you know, Rosamund, that I have taken an immense
fancy to you!"
"What! you have taken a fancy to a wicked young woman!"
"Yes, yes; particularly as she is in reality more naughty than wicked.
Rosamund, why did you not come to the Chamber of Myths at the appointed
day and hour?"
"I gave Captain Valentine my reason."
"Pardon me, you did not give him any adequate reason; but it is so easy
to deceive a man. Now, _I_ want the truth. Come, Rosamund, confide in
me. You know that letter contains news of the deepest interest to you,
perhaps to me, perhaps to others. Ah, you blush! I have hit upon the
truth."