ystal chandelier, her face in shadow, the hand the diplomat had
pressed to his lips resting in the exposed light on the mahogany, the
gaiety went out of her face, and the young girl wearily brushed the
hair from her brow. As if unaware of the soldier's presence, she
glanced absently at the table in its wrecked glory, and, throwing her
lace wrap over her arm, was moving toward the door, when he spoke.

"Miss Carew!"

She paused, standing with clasped hands before him, while the scarf
slipped from her arm and fell at her feet.

"May I not also tell you how glad I am--that you succeeded to-night?"

"I dislike congratulations!" she said, indifferently.

He looked at her quickly, but her eyes expressed only apathy. In his a
sudden gleam of light appeared.

"From me, you mean?" The light became brighter.

She did not answer. His self-control was fast ebbing.

"You underestimate your favors, if you fancy they are easily
forgotten!"

A crimson flush extended to her brow; the unconcern died out of her
eyes.

"I do not understand," she answered, slowly.

"When a woman says 'I do not understand,' she means 'I wish to
forget'."

Her wide-open glance flashed ominously to his; she clasped and
unclasped her fingers.

"Forget what?" she said, coldly.

"Nameless nothings!" he returned. "A smile--a glance--nothing to you,
perhaps, but"--the set expression of his face giving way to abrupt
passion!--"everything to me! Perhaps I had not meant to say this, but
it seems as though the words must come out to-night. It may be"--his
voice vibrating with strange earnestness--"for once I want to be
myself. For weeks we have been--friends--and then suddenly you begin
to treat me--how? As though I no longer existed! Why did you deceive
me--let me drift on? Because I was mute, did you think I was blind?
Why did I join the strollers--the land baron accused me of following
you across the country. He was right; I was following you. I would not
confess it to myself before. But I confess it now! It was a fool's
paradise," he ended, bitterly.

She shrank back before his vehement words; something within her
appeared violated; as though his plea had penetrated the sanctity of
her reserve.

"Would it not be well to say nothing about deception?" she replied,
and her dark eyes swept his face. Then, turning from him abruptly, she
stepped to the window, and, drawing aside the lace curtains
mechanically, looked out.

The city below was yet t