with the vague manner of one just aroused from
deep sleep.

"What are you thing of, Pauline?" asked Miss Hastings.

"I am thinking," she replied, with a dreamy smile, "what good fortune
always attends those who know how to wait. I have waited, and what I
desired is come."

Thursday came at last. Certainly Lady Darrell had spared neither time
nor expense in preparing for her visitor; it was something like a
warrior's home-coming--the rarest of wines, the fairest of flowers, the
sweetest of smiles awaiting him. Lady Darrell's dress was the perfection
of good taste--plain white silk trimmed with black lace, with a few
flowers in her golden hair. She knew that she was looking her best; it
was the first time that the captain had seen her in her present
position, so she was anxious to make the most favorable impression on
him.

"Welcome once more to Darrell Court!" she said, holding out one white
hand in greeting.

"It seems like a welcome to Paradise," said the captain, profanely; and
then he bowed with the grace of a Chesterfield over the little hand that
he still held clasped in his own.

CHAPTER XXXII.

CAPTAIN LANGTON ACCEPTED.

Lady Darrell was obliged to own herself completely puzzled. All the
girls she had ever known had not only liked admiration, but had even
sought it; she could not understand why Pauline showed such decided
aversion to Captain Langton. He was undeniably handsome, graceful, and
polished in manner; Lady Darrell could imagine no one more pleasant or
entertaining. Why should Pauline show such great distaste for his
society, and such avoidance of him?

There were times, too, when she could not quite understand Aubrey
Langton. She had seen him look at Pauline with an expression not merely
of love, but with something of adoration in his eyes; and then again she
would be startled by a look of something more fierce and more violent
even than hate. She herself was in love with him; nor was she ashamed to
own the fact even to herself. She could let her heart speak now--its
voice had been stifled long enough; still she would have liked to know
the cause of Pauline's avoidance of him.

On the second day of his visit Lady Darrell gave a grand dinner-party.
Lady Hampton, who viewed the captain's arrival with great disfavor, was,
as a matter of course, to be present. All the neighbors near were
invited, and Pauline, despite her dislike, saw that she must be present.

Lady Darrell took this