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then closed for a moment； as though to hide their secret。 when they opened； the mist of a dream had passed across them。
thin…lipped wisdom spoke at her from the worn chair； hinted at prudence； quoted from that book of cowardice whose author apes the name of mon sense。 she did not listen。 she was free in her prison of passion。 her prince； prince charming； was with her。 she had called on memory to remake him。 she had sent her soul to search for him； and it had brought him back。 his kiss burned again upon her mouth。 her eyelids were warm with his breath。
then wisdom altered its method and spoke of espial and discovery。 this young man might be rich。 if so； marriage should be thought of。 against the shell of her ear broke the waves of worldly cunning。 the arrows of craft shot by her。 she saw the thin lips moving； and smiled。
suddenly she felt the need to speak。 the wordy silence troubled her。 〃mother； mother；〃 she cried； 〃why does he love me so much？ i know why i love him。 i love him because he is like what love himself should be。 but what does he see in me？ i am not worthy of him。 and yetwhy； i cannot tellthough i feel so much beneath him； i dont feel humble。 i feel proud； terribly proud。 mother； did you love my father as i love prince charming？〃
the elder woman grew pale beneath the coarse powder that daubed her cheeks； and her dry lips twitched with a spasm of pain。 sybil rushed to her； flung her arms round her neck； and kissed her。 〃forgive me； mother。 i know it pains you to talk about our father。 but it only pains you because you loved him so much。 dont look so sad。 i am as happy to…day as you were twenty years ago。 ah！ let me be happy for ever！〃
〃my child； you are far too young to think of falling in love。 besides； what do you know of this young man？ you dont even know his name。 the whole thing is most inconvenient； and really； when james is going away to australia； and i have so much to think of； i must say that you should have shown more consideration。 however； as i said before； if he is rich 。 。 。〃
〃ah！ mother； mother； let me be happy！〃
mrs。 vane glanced at her； and with one of those false theatrical gestures that so often bee a mode of second nature to a stage…player； clasped her in her arms。 at this moment； the door opened and a young lad with rough brown hair came into the room。 he was thick…set of figure； and his hands and feet were large and somewhat clumsy in movement。 he was not so finely bred as his sister。 one would hardly have guessed the close relationship that existed between them。 mrs。 vane fixed her eyes on him and intensified her smile。 she mentally elevated her son to the dignity of an audience。 she felt sure that the tableau was interesting。
〃you might keep some of your kisses for me； sibyl； i think；〃 said the lad with a good…natured grumble。
〃ah！ but you dont like being kissed； jim；〃 she cried。 〃you are a dreadful old bear。〃 and she ran across the room and hugged him。
james vane looked into his sisters face with tenderness。 〃i want you to e out with me for a walk； sibyl。 i dont suppose i shall ever see this horrid london again。 i am sure i dont want to。〃
〃my son； dont say such dreadful things；〃 murmured mrs。 vane； taking up a tawdry theatrical dress； with a sigh； and beginning to patch it。 she felt a little disappointed that he had not joined the group。 it would have increased the theatrical picturesqueness of the situation。
〃why not； mother？ i mean it。〃
〃you pain me； my son。 i trust you will return from australia in a position of affluence。 i believe there is no society of any kind in the colonies nothing that i would call societyso when you have made your fortune； you must e back and assert yourself in london。〃
〃society！〃 muttered the lad。 〃i dont want to know anything about that。 i should like to make some money to take you and sibyl off the stage。 i hate it。〃
〃oh； jim！〃 said sibyl； laughing； 〃how unkind of you！ but are you really going for a walk with me？ that will be nice！ i was afraid you were going to say good…bye to some of your friends to tom hardy； who gave you that hideous pipe； or ned langton； who makes fun of you for smoking it。 it is very sweet of you to let me have your last afternoon。 where shall we go？ let us go to the park。〃
〃i am too shabby；〃 he answered； frowning。 〃only swell people go to the park。〃
〃nonsense； jim；〃 she whispered； stroking the sleeve of his coat。
he hesitated for a moment。 〃very well；〃 he said at last； 〃but dont be too long dressing。〃 she danced out of the door。 one could hear her singing as she ran upstairs。 her little feet pattered overhead。
he walked up and down the room two or three times。 then he turned to the still figure in the chair。 〃mother； are my things ready？〃 he asked。
〃quite ready； james；〃 she answered； keeping her eyes on her work。 for some months past she had felt ill at ease when she was alone with this rough stern son of hers。 her shallow secret nature was troubled when their eyes met。 she used to wonder if he suspected anything。 the silence； for he made no other observation； became intolerable to her。 she began to plain。 women defend themselves by attacking； just as they attack by sudden and strange surrenders。 〃i hope you will be contented； james； with your sea…faring life；〃 she said。 〃you must remember that it is your own choice。 you might have entered a solicitors office。 solicitors are a very respectable class； and in the country often dine with the best families。〃
〃i hate offices； and i hate clerks；〃 he replied。 〃but you are quite right。 i have chosen my own life。 all i say is； watch over sibyl。 dont let her e to any harm。 mother； you must watch over her。〃
〃james； you really talk very strangely。 of course i watch over sibyl。〃
〃i hear a gentleman es every night to the theatre and goes behind to talk to her。 is that right？ what about that？〃
〃you are speaking about things you dont understand； james。 in the profession we are accustomed to receive a great deal of most gratifying attention。 i myself used to receive many bouquets at one time。 that was when acting was really understood。 as for sibyl； i do not know at present whether her attachment is serious or not。 but there is no