should not have
presumed, even here and amongst ourselves, to criticise a person who
holds such a high place in her esteem. Everard, I'll play you a game of
billiards before we go upstairs. There's just time."

Captain Wilmot hesitated. He was a peace-loving man, and, after all,
Penelope and his friend were engaged.

"Perhaps Miss Morse--" he began.

Penelope turned upon him.

"I should like you all to understand," she declared, "that every word I
said came from my heart, and that I would say it again, and more, with
the same provocation."

There was a finality about Penelope's words which left no room for
further discussion. The little group was broken up. She and Lady Grace
went to their rooms together.

"Penelope, you're a dear!" the latter said, as they mounted the stairs.
"I am afraid you've made Charlie very angry, though."

"I hope I have," Penelope answered. "I meant to make him angry. I think
that such self-sufficiency is absolutely stifling. It makes me sometimes
almost loathe young Englishmen of his class."

"And you don't dislike the Prince so much nowadays?" Lady Grace remarked
with transparent indifference.

"No!" Penelope answered. "That is finished. I misunderstood him at
first. It was entirely my own fault. I was prejudiced, and I hated to
feel that I was in the wrong. I do not see how any one could dislike him
unless they were enemies of his country. Then I fancy that they might
have cause."

Lady Grace sighed.

"To tell you the truth, Penelope," she said, "I almost wish that he were
not quite so devotedly attached to his country."

Penelope was silent. They had reached Lady Grace's room now, and were
standing together on the hearthrug in front of the fire.

"I am afraid he is like that," Penelope said gently. "He seems to have
none of the ordinary weaknesses of men. I, too, wish sometimes that he
were a little different. One would like to think of him, for his own
sake, as being happy some day. He reminds me somehow of the men who
build and build, toiling always through youth unto old age. There seems
no limit to their strength, nor any respite. They build a palace which
those who come after them must inhabit."

Once more Lady Grace sighed. She was looking into the heart of the fire.
Penelope took her hands.

"It is hard sometimes, dear," she said, "to realize that a thing is
impossible, that it is absolutely out of our reach. Yet it is better to
bring one's mind to it than to suff