ess of her own disturbed manner.

"I have always believed that great folk liked each other," said Nina,
sarcastically.

"Then I must lack one element of that condition, Nina," said Kate,
good-humoredly; "but pray make my excuses,--say anything you like so
that I may be left in quiet."

"How delightful Madame's reveries must be, when she attaches such value
to them!"

"Can you doubt it, Nina?" replied Kate, with a forced gayety. "A
betrothed bride ought to be happy; you are always telling me so. I hear
of nothing from morn till night but of rich caskets of gems and jewels;
you seem to think that diamonds would throw a lustre over any gloom."

[Illustration: 120]

"And would they not?" cried Nina, passionately "Has not the brow nobler
and higher thoughts when encircled by a coronet like this? Does not
the heart beat with greater transport beneath gems like these?" And she
opened case after case of sparkling jewels as she spoke, and spread them
before Kate, on the table.

"And yet I have learned to look on them calmly," said Kate, with an
expression of proud indifference.

"Does not that dazzle you?" said Nina, holding up a cross of rose
diamonds.

"No!" said Kate, shaking her head.

"Nor that?" cried Nina, displaying a gorgeous necklace.

"Nor even that, Nina."

"Is Madame's heart so steeled against womanly vanities," said Nina,
quickly, while she threw masses of costly articles before her, "that not
one throb, not one flush of pleasure, is called up at sight of these?"

"You see, Nina, that I can look on them calmly."

"Then this, perchance, may move you!" cried Nina; and with a bound
she sprang to the table at which Kate was seated, and, dashing the
handkerchief away, seized the miniature, and held it up.

Kate uttered a shrill cry and fell back fainting. Nina gazed at her for
a second or so with a look of haughty disdain, and sprinkling the pale
features with a few drops of water, she turned away. With calm composure
she replaced each precious gem within its case, laid the miniature once
more beneath the handkerchief, and then left the room.

"Your Princess will not honor us, it seems, with her company," said the
Archduke, half in pique, as the messenger returned with Kate's excuses;
"and yet I looked for her coming to get rid of all the farrago of
politics that you wise folk will insist upon talking."

The Countess and the Minister exchanged most significant glances at
this speech, while D'Esmond