And he signed checks with the air of a
gardener who is growing a wondrous orchid.

The truth was that Mrs. Carter had become so fond of Berenice as an
object of beauty, a prospective grande dame, that she would have sold
her soul to see her well placed; and as the money to provide the
dresses, setting, equipage had to come from somewhere, she had placed
her spirit in subjection to Cowperwood and pretended not to see the
compromising position in which she was placing all that was near and
dear to her.

"Oh, you're so good," she more than once said to him a mist of
gratitude commingled with joy in her eyes. "I would never have
believed it of any one. But Bevy--"

"An esthete is an esthete," Cowperwood replied. "They are rare enough.
I like to see a spirit as fine as hers move untroubled. She will make
her way."

Seeing Lieutenant Braxmar in the foreground of Berenice's affairs, Mrs.
Carter was foolish enough to harp on the matter in a friendly,
ingratiating way. Braxmar was really interesting after his fashion. He
was young, tall, muscular, and handsome, a graceful dancer; but, better
yet, he represented in his moods lineage, social position, a number of
the things which engaged Berenice most. He was intelligent, serious,
with a kind of social grace which was gay, courteous, wistful.
Berenice met him first at a local dance, where a new step was being
practised--"dancing in the barn," as it was called--and so airily did
he tread it with her in his handsome uniform that she was half smitten
for the moment.

"You dance delightfully," she said. "Is this a part of your life on
the ocean wave?"

"Deep-sea-going dancing," he replied, with a heavenly smile. "All
battles are accompanied by balls, don't you know?"

"Oh, what a wretched jest!" she replied. "It's unbelievably bad."

"Not for me. I can make much worse ones."

"Not for me," she replied, "I can't stand them." And they went prancing
on. Afterward he came and sat by her; they walked in the moonlight, he
told her of naval life, his Southern home and connections.

Mrs. Carter, seeing him with Berenice, and having been introduced,
observed the next morning, "I like your Lieutenant, Bevy. I know some
of his relatives well. They come from the Carolinas. He's sure to
come into money. The whole family is wealthy. Do you think he might
be interested in you?"

"Oh, possibly--yes, I presume so," replied Berenice, airily, for she
did not take too kindl