The American Baron | Page 8

asked you what you told him, you know."
"Well," said Minnie, gravely, "I told him, you know, that I was awfully
grateful to him, and that I'd give any thing if I could to express my
gratitude. And then, you know--oh, he speaks such darling broken
English--he called me his 'mees,' and tried to make a pretty speech,
which was so mixed with Italian that I didn't understand one single
word. By-the-way, Kitty, isn't it odd how every body here speaks
Italian, even the children?"
"Yes, very odd; but, Minnie dear, I want to know what you told him."
"Why, I told him that I didn't know, you know."
"And then?"
"And then he took my hand. Now, Kitty, you're unkind. I really can not
tell you all this."
"Yes, but I only ask so as to advise you. I want to know how the case
stands."
"Well, you know, he was so urgent--"
"Yes?"

"And so handsome--"
"Well?"
"And then, you know, he saved my life--didn't he, now? You must
acknowledge that much, mustn't you?"
"Oh yes."
"Well--"
"Well?"
Minnie sighed.
"So what could I say?"
Minnie paused.
Mrs. Willoughby looked troubled.
"Kitty, I wish you wouldn't look at me with that dreadful expression.
You really make me feel quite frightened."
"Minnie," said the other, in a serious voice, "do you really love this
man?"
"Love this man! why no, not particularly; but I like him; that is, I think
I do, or rather I thought I did; but really I'm so worried about all my
troubles that I wish he had never come down after me. I don't see why
he did, either. I didn't ask him to. I remember, now, I really felt quite
embarrassed when I saw him. I knew there would be trouble about it.
And I wish you would take me back home. I hate Italy. Do, Kitty
darling. But then--"
Minnie paused again.
"Well, Minnie dear, we certainly must contrive some plan to shake him
off without hurting his feelings. It can't be thought of. There are a

hundred objections. If the worst comes to the worst we can go back, as
you say, to England."
"I know; but then," said Minnie, "that's the very thing that I can't do--"
"Can't do what?"
"Go back to England."
"Back to England! Why not? I don't know what you mean."
"Well, you see, Kitty, that's the very thing I came to see you about.
This dreadful man--the Count, you know--has some wonderful way of
finding out where I go; and he keeps all the time appearing and
disappearing in the very strangest manner; and when I saw him on the
roof of the Cathedral it really made me feel quite giddy. He is so
determined to win me that I'm afraid to look round. He takes the
commonest civility as encouragement. And then, you know--there it
is--I really can't go back to England."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Why there's--a--a dreadful person there," said Minnie, with an awful
look in her eyes.
"A what?"
"A--person," said Minnie.
"A man?"
Minnie nodded. "Oh yes--of course. Really when one thinks of one's
troubles it's enough to drive one distracted. This person is a man. I don't
know why it is that I should be so worried and so distracted by men. I
do not like them, and I wish there were no such persons."
"Another man!" said Mrs. Willoughby, in some surprise. "Well, Minnie,
you certainly--"

"Now don't, don't--not a word; I know all you're going to say, and I
won't stand it;" and Minnie ran over to her sister and held her hand over
her mouth.
"I won't say a word," said Mrs. Willoughby, as soon as she had
removed Minnie's hand; "so begin."
Minnie resumed her place on the sofa, and gave a long sigh.
"Well, you know, Kitty darling, it happened at Brighton last September.
You were in Scotland then. I was with old Lady Shrewsbury, who is as
blind as a bat--and where's the use of having a person to look after you
when they're blind! You see, my horse ran away, and I think he must
have gone ever so many miles, over railroad bridges and hedges and
stone walls. I'm certain he jumped over a small cottage. Well, you
know, when all seemed lost, suddenly there was a strong hand laid on
the reins, and my horse was stopped. I tumbled into some strange
gentleman's arms, and was carried into a house, where I was
resuscitated. I returned home in the gentleman's carriage.
"Now the worst of it is," said Minnie, with a piteous look, "that the
person who stopped the horse called to inquire after me the next day.
Lady Shrewsbury, like an old goose, was awfully civil to him; and so