g
called by her, instantly vanished.

Lord Arondelle mused for awhile. Miss Levison gazed on him in anxious
suspense for a few minutes, and then inquired:

"What do you think of it?"

"My love, if I were a transcendental visionary, I might say, that at
the hour you saw my image before you, my thoughts, my mind, my spirit,
whatever you choose to call my inner self, was actually with you, and
so became visible to you; but--" he paused.

"But--what?" she inquired.

"Not being a transcendentalist or a visionary, I am forced to the
conclusion that what you thought you saw, was, really nothing but an
optical illusion!"

"You think that?"

"Indeed I do!"

"I assure you, that the image seemed as real, as substantial, and as
solid to me then as you do now."

"No doubt of it! Optical illusions always seem very real--perfectly
real."

"It was an optical illusion then! That is settled! And now!" exclaimed
Salome. Then she paused.

"Yes, and now! About the sinful dream! What did you dream of? Throwing me
over at the last moment and marrying a handsomer man?" gayly inquired the
young marquis.

"I will tell you presently what I dreamed; but first tell me, were you in
our grounds last night?" she gravely inquired.

"Yes, my little lady; but how did you know of it?" inquired the young
marquis in surprise.

"I did not know it. Were you under my window?" she asked, in a low,
tremulous tone.

"Yes, love. How came you to suspect me?" he inquired, more than ever
astonished.

"I did not suspect you. Had you a companion with you?" she murmured.

"No, Salome. Certainly not. Why, sweet, do you ask me?"

"I thought I heard your voice speaking to some one who answered you under
my window."

"But, love, there was no one with me. I was quite alone. And I
did not speak at all--not even to myself. I am not in the habit of
soliloquizing."

"Please tell me, if you can, at what hour you were under my window."

"It was between ten and eleven o'clock. I was walking in the grounds,
and I went under your wall and looked up. I saw three shadows pass
the lighted windows, which I took to be those of yourself and your
attendants, and then suddenly the lights were turned off and all was
dark. I knew then that you had retired to rest, and of course I turned
away and walked back to the hamlet. But, love, instead of telling the
little story you promised, it seems that you have put me through a very
sharp examination," said his lordship