Mrs.Atterbury had declined to authorise the visit to Harrington Hall, and then Adelaide had pleaded her age and independence.

She was her own mistress if she so chose to call herself, and would not, at any rate, remain in Florence at the present moment to receive the attentions of Signor Brudi.

Of the previous winter she had passed three months with some relatives in England, and there she had learned to ride to hounds, had first met Gerard Maule, and had made acquaintance with Lady Chiltern.

Gerard Maule had wandered to Italy after her, appearing at Florence in his desultory way, having no definite purpose, not even that of asking Adelaide to be his wife,--but still pursuing her, as though he wanted her without knowing what he wanted.

In the course of the Spring, however, he had proposed, and had been almost accepted.