wood--"How can you say such a thing!"

"Only because I feel it"--replied Morgana--"I dare say my life is not
more valueless than other lives--they are all without ultimate meaning.
If I knew, quite positively, that I was all in all to some ONE being
who would be unhappy without me,--to whom I could be helper and
inspirer, I dare say I should value my life more,--but unfortunately I
have seen too much of the modern world to believe in the sincerity of
even that 'one' being, could I find him--or her. I am very positively
alone in life,--no woman was ever more alone than I!"

"But--is not that your own fault?" suggested Don Aloysius, gently.

"Quite!" she answered, smiling--"I fully admit it. I am what they call
'difficult' I know,--I do not like 'society' or its amusements, which
to me seem very vulgar and senseless,--I do not like its conversation,
which I find excessively banal and often coarse--I cannot set my soul
on tennis or golf or bridge--so I'm quite an 'outsider.' But I'm not
sorry!--I should not care to be INside the human menagerie. Too much
barking, biting, scratching, and general howling among the animals!--it
wouldn't suit me!"

She laughed lightly, and continued,--

"That's why I say my life is valueless to anyone but myself. And that's
why I'm not afraid to risk it in flying the 'White Eagle' alone."

Her hearers were silent. Indeed there was nothing to be said. Whatever
her will or caprice there was no one with any right to gainsay it.
Rivardi was inwardly seething with suppressed irritation--but his
handsome face showed no sign of annoyance save in an extreme pallor and
gravity of expression.

"I think,"--said Don Aloysius, after a pause--"I think our hostess will
do us the grace of believing that whatever she has experienced of the
world in general, she has certainly won the regard and interest of
those whom she honours with her company at the present moment!"--and
his voice had a thrill of irresistible kindness--"And whatever she
chooses to do, and however she chooses to do it, she cannot avoid
involving such affection and interest as those friends represent--"

"Dear Father Aloysius!" interrupted Morgana, quickly and
impulsively--"Forgive me!--I did not think!--I am sure you and the
Marchese and Lady Kingswood have the kindest feeling for me!--but--"

"But!"--and Aloysius smiled--"But--it is a little lady that will not be
commanded or controlled! Yes--that is so! However this may be, let us