d reserved. Her maid arranged the wraps and discreetly withdrew. Her
old luxurious habits had evidently survived her exile, for a courier was
in charge of her luggage. She had come, she told him, direct from St.
Petersburg. They sat opposite to one another, whilst all around them
was the bustle of incoming passengers. Conversation was
impossible--silence alone was eloquent.

"You have changed so little," she said, smiling at him as the train
swept away from the station.

"And you, surely not at all," he answered.

"You knew--that he was dead?" she asked softly.

"The Duchess told me so--six months ago. I wondered why you stayed
there."

She sighed.

"I have been a woman of many luxuries," she said, "yet I think the
sweetest of them all I experienced at Molchavano. I really think that I
did a little good. After his death I sent to Petersburg for nurses and
I stayed at the hospital till they came.

"The luxury of doing good can be indulged in here as well as
Molchavano," he murmured.

* * * * *

They were nearing London. Far away on either side was an amphitheatre
of lights. She leaned forward and gazed thoughtfully out of the window.

"Douglas," she said, "do you remember our first journey together?"

He laughed.

"Shall I ever forget it!"

"How young you were," she murmured--"how eager and how ambitious. Life
was like a fairy tale to you, full of wonderful things which no one
believes in nowadays. I wonder, have you found the truth yet? Have you
learnt your lesson?"

"Life is more like a fairy tale than ever to-night," he answered gaily.
"As to the rest, I will answer you presently. Only remember, that if I
have jealously preserved a few illusions it is because they are the
flowers which grow along the byeways of life. You may smile at them, if
you will, but not unkindly."

Their way led past the theatre. He glanced at his watch--the last act
was still in full swing. He pulled the check cord.

"Do you mind," he asked, "for five minutes? My answer is waiting here."

"In my travelling dress?" she asked.

He handed her out.

"It will not matter," he assured her. "I can find a seat where your
dress will be unnoticed."

They passed into the stage box, where their entrance, although they kept
as far as possible in the background, excited much comment. They felt
at once that they had come into an atmosphere charged with electric
emotion. Little ripples of excitement were