hand that he
held in his and from it to my eyes that were looking into his with the
entire friendliness of my heart. Suddenly I had a great fright of
discovery within me and my knees began to again tremble together for
their skirts, but before that fright had reached my eyes quite, I had
born to me an elder brother in the person of that Buzz Clendenning,
and I now know that I can never lose him, even when he knows that--

"I'm no shakes in the duel, Prince, so let's kiss and make up before
you get out your sword," he said as he also, as my Uncle, the General
Robert, had done, laid an arm across my shoulders in an embrace of
affection. It was then I made a discovery in the strange land into
which I was penetrating: Men have much sentiment in their hearts that
it is impossible for a woman to discover from behind a fan. They keep
it entirely for each other as comrades, and I received a large portion
of such an affection when that Mr. Buzz Clendenning adopted me in what
he thought was my foreign weakness, as a small brother to be protected
in his large heart.

"I am very happy to so salute you instead of the duel," I made answer
and did immediately put a kiss on his one cheek, expecting that he
would return it upon my cheeks, first one and then another, as is the
custom of comrades and officers in France.

"Here, help! Don't do that again or I'll call out the police,"
responded that funny Mr. Buzz Clendenning, as he shook me away from
him, while my Uncle, the General Robert, and the great Gouverneur did
both indulge in laughter.

"I am abashed and I beg your pardon for offending against the customs
of your country. I do remember now that my father did not permit such
a salutation from his brother officers, and I will not do so again,
Monsieur Buzz Clendenning," I said as my cheeks became crimson with
mortification and tears would have come over my eyes had my pride
permitted.

"This is what he meant you to do, Buzz, you duffer. I said good-bye to
twenty-two of my friends this way the day I set sail from old
Heidelberg," and as he spoke, that great and beautiful and exalted
Gouverneur Faulkner did bend his head to mine and give to me the
correct comrade salute of my own country on first one of my cheeks and
then upon the other.

"I thank you, your Excellency," I murmured with gratitude. I wonder
what that Russian Count Estzkerwitch or Mr. Peter Scudder or Lord
Leigholm on those Scotch moors, would have thought to hea