Harry could forgive her her birth, and pass it utterly by if she chose to fall in love with him; but to hear the grocer mentioned, when he knew of the tailor, was a little too much, and what Harry felt his ingenuous countenance was accustomed to exhibit.

The Countess saw it.

She turned her head from him to the diplomatist, and he had to remain like a sentinel at her feet.

He did not want to be thanked for the green box: still he thought she might have favoured him with one of her much-embracing smiles: In the evening, after wine, when he was warm, and had almost forgotten the insult to his family and himself, the Countess snubbed him.

It was unwise on her part, but she had the ghastly thought that facts were oozing out, and were already half known.