se who aroused her by the nervous upward fling of his
head. Then she held out her hand to Lady Helen--and gave me a smile.

"I am not the only one, then, who likes the early morning?" she said.

"It's the cream of the day," said Lady Helen.

"Rather the champagne of the day," the Princess answered. Then she
laughed. "I forgot, Major Dalberg, it isn't well to take champagne
before breakfast."

"I prefer coffee, I admit," said I.

"Are you two going anywhere in particular?" she asked.

"Straight back to town," said Lady Helen; "don't you see Major Dalberg
wants his breakfast?"

"And your Ladyship?" the Princess questioned.

Lady Helen laughed. "I am very human, too, I fear."

"Then, why not breakfast with me at the Summer Palace?" said Dehra.

"We shall be delighted," said Lady Helen, without even questioning me
by a glance.

"Your Royal Highness is too gracious," I protested. "I fear I
shall----"

Dehra raised her crop. "There is only one shaft, sir; you shall come
with us."

So I went; even while my better judgment bade me turn bridle and gallop
away. A man is very helpless with one pretty woman; he is utterly at
the mercy of two.

Presently we passed the place where the Princess and I had met six
years before. I glanced across and found her eyes on me. I nodded
toward the spot where I had removed the stone from the mare's hoof, and
she nodded back in answer.

"This is a very charming road," I said.

"It's a favorite with Your Highness, is it not?" asked Lady Helen. "I
have often met you on it."

I affected to be interested in something beside the track.

"Yes, I believe it is," Dehra answered carelessly. "It is soft for the
horse and little travelled and I enjoy the quiet of the forest." Then
she deliberately turned and smiled at me. And Lady Helen saw it.

At the top of the hill above the Palace the way narrowed and I fell
behind; and, dismounting, I affected to be fixing something about the
girth. I wanted to see the Princess go down that tree-lined way as
once before I had seen her. Then they came to the bend; and, leaning
against my horse's shoulder, I waited. Would she remember?

Suddenly, she turned and waved her hand, exactly as she had done that
other time; only, this time, it was a beckon to follow, not a farewell.
I sprang to saddle and dashed ahead, almost fearing to find her
vanished and it only a dream. When I rounded the corner, the Princess
and Lady Helen were t