Oh, always believe that... And I will give you compensation.--
I can promise it--now."

They seemed to him the sweetest words that ever fell from mortal lips,
and no less sweet--though infinitely puzzling--was that exquisite
humility with which she crowned the wonder of her self-surrender. Yet
even as he heard his brain grew bewildered--his senses seemed to reel.
Strange thoughts and shapes seemed to hover around him, and all the
soft, dim space of night appeared a black and peopled horror. For a
moment he felt that consciousness was forsaking him... that the shock of
this unexpected joy was beyond his strength to bear. Dizzy and sick he
swayed suddenly forwards.--A cool hand touched his brow--a voice reached
his ear. With a mighty effort he shook off the paralysing weakness, and
sank down by the side of his enchantress.

"Is it a dream?" he murmured, vaguely; "shall I wake to-morrow and know
you have mocked me again?"

"Nay, my beloved," she whispered; "this--is no dream... Never again
shall I mock you. I am but a woman now who loves. Earth holds no
weaker thing."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

When Julian Estcourt entered the public drawing-room, nearly two hours
after he had left it, several curious eyes turned towards him. The
card-players had finished their game and broken up into various groups.
A few men were yawning and apparently meditating a retreat to the
smoking-room. No one seemed particularly energetic, but the entrance of
that tall soldierly figure struck a new note of interest in the languid
assemblage. He seemed to bring--as it were--a breeze of vitality, a
sense of freshness and energy along with him from the starlit air and
the pine-scented woods. His head was erect, his eyes shone with the
radiance of happiness, a certain sense of pride--of triumph--and yet of
deep intense content, was in his aspect and his smile.

Mrs Ray Jefferson, her spirits still unimpaired by losses at "poker,"
was the first to remark audibly on the change.

"Why, Colonel!" she said. "Have _you_ been having a Turkish Bath?
Guess you look as fresh and perky as if you'd taken a new lease of
life."

He laughed. "The only bath I have taken," he said, "is one of
moonlight. You should all be out on the terrace. Far healthier and
more enjoyable than these hot, gas-lit rooms, I assure you."

"The terrace," said Mrs Jefferson, looking at him with a sudden stern
acc