kissed one another and Molly
departed.

* * * * *

Then came work for Ottillie, and her mistress was hardly completed as to
embroidered batiste and black moire ribbon, when the large and
remarkable card with which the more distinguished portion of European
masculinity announce their presence was brought to the room by one of
the hotel _garcons_.

He awaited her in the salon below, and when she appeared there to him,
such an expression dawned within his eyes as altered completely not only
their habitual melancholy, but the customary shadows of his whole face
as well. There is no flattery so subtle in its charm or so deeply
touching in its homage as such a change, and Rosina felt as much
complimented as any other woman would have been, had it been in her to
work so great a miracle in so great, and such, a man.

"_Vous allez bien?_" he asked eagerly, as he came quickly forward to bow
over her hand.

"Yes, very well;" and then, because she always became nervous directly
she lived beneath his steady look, she plunged wildly into the subject
uppermost in her mind. "And I ought to feel very well, because in all
probability I must travel again to-day."

"You leave Zurich already so soon?" he asked, and his voice betrayed
neither surprise nor even interest.

"Yes," she answered, "we are all going to Constance this afternoon."

"You have change your plans?" he inquired; "yes?"

She looked up quickly at the much-objected-to word, and he received the
little glance with a shrug of apology and a smile.

"Madame la Princesse wishes to go on," said Rosina, "and mademoiselle
thought that I would be so lonely without her that I--"

"You would have wished to stay, _n'est-ce pas_?" he asked, interrupting
her.

"I don't like to travel two days in succession."

"I would beg you to stay," he said, looking at his gloved hands, "but I
also go to-day."

She felt her heart jump suddenly; Molly's prediction assaulted her
memory with great violence.

"Yes," he went on, "it happens oddly that my plans are also suddenly
changed. It is to say good-bye that I am come."

Ah, then he was not going to Constance.

"I am called to Leipsic by a telegram."

"No one is ill, I hope?"

"No, fortunately," he replied pleasantly; "but in Leipsic I am much
interested."

Rosina felt a sudden shock, not the less disagreeable because it was so
undefined, but she pulled herself together at once and promptly
swa