nking aloud. But now Mildred's
sudden exclamation of happiness made his eyes soften into a look of
kindliness that again reminded the girl of her father.

"But, my child, you must not hope too much," he remonstrated. "The Czar
may not feel as I do about your friend. After your service to me there
is little you could desire which I would not wish to give you."

One would never have thought of General Alexis as a great soldier at
this moment. The heavy lines of his face had gone. There was no
sternness about his mouth. His eyes, which were so surprisingly blue
because of his other dark coloring, gazed at Mildred's until for an
instant she dropped the lids over her own, feeling embarrassed without
exactly knowing why.

The next moment she looked directly at the man, whom she felt sure was
her friend, in spite of the differences in their ages, their rank and
their countries.

"General Alexis, I am going to ask you to do me a favor--no, I don't
mean about Sonya this time. I shall be more grateful than I can even try
to say for that kindness. But this is something which does not concern
anyone except just you and me. Will you never in the future speak or
think of the service which you are good enough to say I have rendered
you." Actually, Mildred was now twisting her hands together in the old
nervous fashion which she thought she had overcome. "It is difficult for
me to say things," she went on, "but I want you to know that the
greatest honor I shall ever have in my life was the privilege of nursing
you. If I did help make you well, why I am so happy and proud the favor
is on my side and not yours." And Mildred ended with a slight gasp,
feeling her cheeks burning in spite of the cold, so unaccustomed was
she to making long speeches or to revealing her emotions.

"Miss Thornton," General Alexis returned. Then instead of finishing his
sentence he leaned over and touched his coachman.

"Stop the sleigh for a moment. We are growing cold. It will be better
for us to walk for ten or fifteen minutes and then come back to the
sleigh." Again he spoke to Mildred.

"You will come with me for a little?" he asked. "It will be wiser for
you not to grow stiff with sitting still." Afterwards he said something
to Lieutenant Orlaff, to which he and Nona agreed.

Five minutes later Mildred was walking across the snow toward the river,
with her hand resting on General Alexis' arm. She was colder than she
had imagined and it was difficul