said deliberately ignoring her own offer, and with
a reckless toss of her head, "you sought a fair girl for whose sake you
have travelled far. Pray tell me, Monsieur,--I am so curious to
know,--do you truly think Josette fairer than I?"

She spoke so lightly, smiling softly into my eyes, that I hardly
detected the faint tinge of regretful sarcasm in her low voice.

"Josette, you ask me? Why, Josette is indeed a most charming girl,
Mademoiselle; but to my mind there can be no comparison between her and
you, for you are the fairest woman I have ever known."

Her dark eyes were full upon me, and I saw her parted lips move as if
she would speak. But no words came, and we stood there silent except
for the nervous tapping of her foot against the floor. Her look of
seriousness changed into a smile.

"By my faith, but you pay compliments with so grave a countenance,
Monsieur, that I hardly know how to receive them. Most men whisper
such things with a light laugh, or a twinkle of the eye, and I know
their words to be empty as bubbles of air. But you,--why, you almost
make me feel you are in earnest."

"And I am," I interrupted, longing to seize her hand as I knew De Croix
would have done, and pour forth the words that burnt upon my lips. "I
have not been privileged to see much of the great outside world,
Mademoiselle,--the world of courts and cities,--nor do I know how
lovely its women may be; but no ideal formed in dreams satisfies me as
you do. I know naught of idle compliments, nor the graces of a
courtier; but my words are from the heart."

"I do truly believe and trust you, John Wayland," and she gave me her
hand. "But let us talk of this no longer. My vanity is already more
than satisfied by your frank and honest speech. And so you found
Josette?"

"Yes," I answered, scarce noting what it was I said, so puzzled was I
by her quick retreat.

"And that meeting, perchance, was so pleasant that it has taken your
thought from all else? It must indeed be so, or why is it that Master
Wayland doth not claim of me the stake of the wager?"

"Because," I stammered, greatly embarrassed by her roguish questioning
eyes, "I fear it has not been fairly won."

"Not fairly won?" she echoed, puzzled by my tone and manner. "Surely
you have made the trip, and the terms were plain. Really, Monsieur,
you do not think I would withhold so small a reward from the winner?"

"But there was another,--the prize was destined fo