such protest. He seemed to consider her suggestion
and to think it--well, worthy of consideration; and this should have
been very pleasing to her; for did it not mean that she had gained her
point?

"You will think over it, Bertie?" she said. Her voice was now scarcely
so full of eagerness as it had been before. Was that because she did not
want to weary him by her persistence? Even the suggestion to a man that
he should love a certain woman should, she knew, be made with tact.

"I have been thinking over it," he said at last; but only after a long
pause.

"Oh, I am so glad!"

And she actually believed that she was glad.

"I thought about her aboard the yacht."

"Did you? I fancied that you would think of----But I am so glad!"

"I thought of her as my good angel. Those words which she said to me--"

"She has been your good angel, and I--"

"Ella, Ella, she has been our good angel--you said so."

"And don't you think that I meant it? Some women--she is one of
them--are born to lead men upward; others----Ah, there, it is on the
stage: _Carmen_, the enchantress, _Michaela_, the good angel. But I am
so glad! She is coming to stay with us up the river; you must be with us
too. You cannot possibly know her yet. But a week by her side--you will,
I know, come to perceive what she is--the sweetest--the most perfect!"

Still he made no reply. He was looking earnestly at the conductor, who
was pulling his musicians together for the second act.

"You will come to us, Bertie?" she whispered.

He shook his head.

"I dare not promise," said he. "I feel just now like a man who is still
dazed, on being suddenly awakened. I have not yet begun to see things as
they are. I am not sure of myself. I will let you know later on."

Then the conductor tapped his desk, and those of the audience who had
left their places returned. Stephen Linton slipped into his chair; his
wife took up her lorgnette as the first jingle of the tambourines was
heard, and the curtain rose upon the picturesque tawdriness of the
company assembled at the _Senor Lois Pastia's_ place of entertainment.

Ella gave all her attention to the opera--to that tragedy of the
weakness of the flesh, albeit the spirit may be willing to listen to
good. Alas! that the flesh should be so full of color and charm and
seduction, while the spirit is pale, colorless, and set to music in a
minor key!

_Carmen_ flashed about the stage under the brilliant lights, looking
li