cial mind,
might well suggest the appearance of a foreigner--a Frenchman. Mr.
Sheppard had never felt quite satisfied in his own mind about that
mysterious rival of whom Minola spoke to him on the memorable day when
he saw her last. She had told him that her Alceste was only "a man who
lived in a book, Mr. Sheppard--in what you would call a play." How well
he remembered the very words she used, and the expression of contempt on
her lips as she used them. And he had got the book--the play--and read
it--toiled through it--and found that there was an Alceste in it. So far
she had told the truth, no doubt; but might not the Alceste have a
living embodiment, or might she not have found since that time a
supposed realization of her Alceste, and might not this be he--this
handsome, foreign-looking young man, who was lounging there as coolly
and easily as if the place belonged to him? For a moment an awful doubt
filled his mind. Could she be married? Was that her husband?

"Miss Grey?" he said in hesitating and questioning tone, as that of one
who is not quite clear about the identity of the person he is
addressing; but Mr. Sheppard was only giving form unconsciously to the
doubt in his own mind, Are you still Miss Grey?

The words and their tone were rather fortunate for Minola. They amused
her and seemed ridiculous, although she did not guess at Mr. Sheppard's
real meaning, and they enabled her to get back at once to her easy
contempt for him.

"You must have forgotten my appearance very soon, Mr. Sheppard," she
said in a tone which carried the contempt so lightly and easily that he
probably did not perceive it, "or I must have changed very much, if you
are not quite certain whether I am Miss Grey. You have not changed at
all. I should have known you anywhere."

"It is not that," Mr. Sheppard said with a little renewal of
cheerfulness. "I should have known you anywhere, Miss Grey. You have not
changed, except indeed that you have, if that were possible, improved.
Indeed, I would venture to say that you have decidedly improved."

"Thank you: you are very kind."

"It would be less surprising, if you, Miss Grey, had had some difficulty
in recognizing me. Fortune, perhaps, has withdrawn some of her blessings
from others only to pour them more lavishly on you."

"I feel very well, thank you; but I hope fortune has not been robbing
any Peter to pay Paul in my case. You, at least, don't seem to have been
cheated out of any o