away and gone back to the old
beginning. She had given herself to little kindnesses and trivial
interests, for the fulfilment of her nature had withered in the bud.

The key turned in the door downstairs and in a moment she heard Dudley
in the hall. As her door opened she looked up brightly. "Up, old girl?"
he asked cheerfully, and as he came to the fire he bent to kiss her.

"Did you make a speech? and what did you say?" she inquired.

"Oh, they got a good deal out of me," he responded with a genial
recollection which he proceeded to unfold. His eyes shone and his face
was flushed. As he stood on the hearth rug before her she admitted with
a sigh of satisfaction his physical splendour. The glow of his
personality warmed her into an emotion half maternal. She regarded him
with the eyes of tolerant affection.

"Oh, yes, I think I made a friend of Diggs," he was adding complacently
as he flecked a particle of cigar ash from his coat. "He got off a
capital story, by the way. I'd give it to you, but I'm half
afraid--you're so squeamish."

"His jokes don't amuse me," returned Eugenia indifferently. "Who else
was there?"

"Well, the governor was very much there. He did some stiff talking. I
say, Eugie, do you know, I believe he used to have a pretty strong fancy
for you--didn't he?"

Eugenia looked at him with a laugh. "Oh, a fancy?" she repeated.

She moved away, gathering her hair from her shoulders; but in a moment
she came back again and rubbed her cheek against Dudley's arm as she
used to rub it against General Battle's old linen sleeve. "Dudley," she
said with a sudden break, "the baby would have been ten years old
to-night--do you remember?"

Dudley was looking into the fire; his face grew grave, and he patted
Eugenia's head. "You don't say so! Poor little chap!" he exclaimed.

They were both silent. Dudley's eyes were still on the flame, but the
shadow lifted from his brow. Eugenia's lips quivered and grew firm. She
gently drew herself away and began braiding her hair, but her hands were
unsteady.

In a moment Dudley spoke again. "It was a great pity I lost that
governorship," he said abstractedly.

A week after this Eugenia went with Juliet Galt to the Capitol to hear a
speech in which Dudley was interested. The Senate Chamber was crowded,
and as the atmosphere grew oppressive while Dudley's gentleman held the
floor, she rose and went out into the lobby where a noisy circle pulsed
round Houdon's Washin