ion, natural enough under the circumstances, and her

y expect any good

ot; but I am

hat very trite commonplace had no more soothing

for myself. I hate being patient. Why can't I go out myself an

fore the risk

been with you nearly two days and you've done nothing. Two whol

en better had tho

now how ungrateful I am. I hate myself for it, Christabel. But I

e as hers. She soon dried her eyes, and sat down and looked at me,

ur lovely golden hair, your great b

se he liked it. But I like to hear you say it, too. You see I'm not a bit clever, like you; and one must be either clever or pretty,

w a likeness of him, Gareth, for me? Yo

uldn't do him justice, of course-no one could do that. He's t

put my name on it, and sign it Gareth von Ostelen, and

d, merrily; and se

absorbed in the task, I went off saying I ha

on as the latter returned, should go to the house "Unter

carriage and a pair of good horses, and procure uniforms for himself and his son. He was to act as coachman and James as footman; and everything m

able the horses there, and dismiss any men servants he might find about the house; and I sugge

little thumb-nail sketch of herself in the corner, where she had written her

f I had not to hurry it,"

for her. "And now there is one other thing. Could you give me a paper or letter w

ght the idea so clever that she gave me one of the two letters from him

ought it best to dismiss my carriage before I crossed the Suspensio

uggle was one in which I took a keen personal pleasure. His hateful treatment of the girl who had trusted him filled me with indignation and resentment; and the hop

aching the house, and I asked the servant some

iss, n

be with Madame probably; so when the Colonel arrives, make up a little parcel and bring it to me, and just say: 'The parcel you asked abou

ered with a grin as he slip

Madame d

he sa

lo

with her. He has been here

t Gustav was pacing up and down the room speaking energetically with many forceful gestures. He

s a chess player, I ma

re," he said lightly. "I tell her she takes the postponement-or if

andoned?"

e not t

ou have counted upon the marriage. The abandonment is a

not my marriage, Miss Gilmore. I like my brother, of course,

much you love your br

think. I am afraid it would not be favour

rhaps others do not know you as I do. But why h

ibility on me," he said with a tou

d that the quest

lent gentleman who was Madame's husband; and it must perforce be postponed until the proofs of h

fficult to manufacture than

y lightly made, Miss Gilmore." His

n a few hours I heard that the marriage had been postponed; you now say it was because those proofs cannot be produced. There must be a reason for suc

ce, and then crossed to Madame d'

eave now. With a lady we cannot resent an insult; we can

tatiously affected h

and nervously, and he turned fr

go, Count, if I were y

t impossible for me to

best, but I should n

you wish to say anything to me and can do so without insulting me, I am willing

g to say it to some one. Of course if

I to unders

tart just now is what we Americans call putting up a bluff. But you can't bluff me. I hold the cards-every one of them a winning card, too. If you go, you lose the

s Gilmore, and it doesn't lend itself

ou dare, Count Gustav;" and I chall

tty woman, Miss Gilmore," he said, w

But the question is not my looks;

dame d'Artelle m

abel, and am going to my room

fastening on her action. "It's just as well. I have to say some th

the door for her to pass and u

e footman came to the d

t me, Peter

el you asked for, miss." I took it

would do much for any friend of Madame's, but I canno

a little dr

concerns you." I half tore the w

it, waving it aw

t is from-Sillien, Count,"

azed with s

but he took it and tore off the cove

insult. I would

ould have been inside it-" and I held up before him the little s

olonel Katona, Gareth's father, is here in the

e stroke was for the

his lips. White, tense, agitated and utterly unstrung, he st

n to be contented