d to keep her place beside that door, trusting to her
wits to baffle all dangerous chances that might arise.

"Better that I should be here," thought she, "to prevent some luckless
accident, than leave that poor man at the mercy of a heedless betrayal."

This was the secret of the indifference which Ginevra had apparently
shown to the removal of her easel. She was inwardly enchanted, because
the change had enabled her to gratify her curiosity in a natural manner;
besides, at this moment, she was too keenly preoccupied to perceive the
reason of her removal.

Nothing is more mortifying to young girls, or, indeed, to all the world,
than to see a piece of mischief, an insult, or a biting speech, miss its
effect through the contempt or the indifference of the intended victim.
It seems as if hatred to an enemy grows in proportion to the height that
enemy is raised above us. Ginevra's behavior was an enigma to all her
companions; her friends and enemies were equally surprised; for the
former claimed for her all good qualities, except that of forgiveness of
injuries. Though, of course, the occasions for displaying that vice of
nature were seldom afforded to Ginevra in the life of a studio, still,
the specimens she had now and then given of her vindictive disposition
had left a strong impression on the minds of her companions.

After many conjectures, Mademoiselle Roguin came to the conclusion that
the Italian's silence showed a grandeur of soul beyond all praise; and
the banking circle, inspired by her, formed a project to humiliate the
aristocracy. They succeeded in that aim by a fire of sarcasms which
presently brought down the pride of the Right coterie.

Madame Servin's arrival put a stop to the struggle. With the shrewdness
that usually accompanies malice, Amelie Thirion had noticed, analyzed,
and mentally commented on the extreme preoccupation of Ginevra's mind,
which prevented her from even hearing the bitterly polite war of words
of which she was the object. The vengeance Mademoiselle Roguin and her
companions were inflicting on Mademoiselle Thirion and her group had,
therefore, the fatal effect of driving the young _ultras_ to search for
the cause of the silence so obstinately maintained by Ginevra di Piombo.
The beautiful Italian became the centre of all glances, and she was
henceforth watched by friends and foes alike.

It is very difficult to hide even a slight emotion or sentiment from
fifteen inquisitive and