merican ladies gathered near and
gazed in silence upon the great woman, and Beatrice, carefully adjusting
her camera, again took a snap. The picture of Madame von Marwitz, with
her hand before her eyes, her anxious dog at her knees, found its way
into the American press and illustrated touchingly the story of the lost
adopted child. Madame von Marwitz was not sorry when, among a batch of
press-cuttings, she came across the photograph and saw that her most
genuine emotion had been thus made public.

She looked up at last, and the dizziness of untried and perilous freedom
was in her eyes; but curious, now, of other objects, they took in,
weighed and measured the little group before her; power grew in them, an
upwelling of force and strategy.

She smiled upon the Slifers and she rose.

"You have done me an immeasurable service," she said, and as she spoke
she took Mrs. Slifer's hand with a noble dignity. "You have lifted me
from despair. It is blessed news that you bring. My child is safe with a
good, a talented man; one for whom I have the deepest affection. And in
the New Forest--at Brockenhurst--on Saturday. Ah, I shall soon have her
in my arms."

Still holding Mrs. Slifer's hand she led them up the terraces and
towards the house. "The poor child is ill, distraught. She had parted
from her husband--fled from him. Ah, it has been a miserable affair,
that marriage. But now, all will be well. _Bon Dieu!_ what joy! What
peace of heart you have brought me! I shall be with her to-morrow. I
start at once. And you, my good friends, let me hear your plans. Let me
be of service to you. Come with me for the last stage of your journey. I
will not part with you willingly."

"It's all simply too wonderful, Baroness," Mrs. Slifer gasped, as she
skipped along on her short legs beside the goddess-like stride of the
great woman, who held her--who held her very tightly. "We were just
going to drift along up to Tintagel and then work up to London, taking
in all the cathedrals we could on our way."

"And you will change your route in order to give me the pleasure of your
company. You will forfeit Tintagel: is it not so?" Madame von Marwitz
smiled divinely. "You will come with me in my car to Truro where we take
the train and I will drop you to-night at the feet of a cathedral. So.
Your luggage is at Mullion? That is simple. We wire to your friends to
pack and send it on at once. Leave it to me. You are in my hands. It is
a kindness t