the general attention in that part of the
house. A lady in crimson velvet, with some gossamer lace about her arms
and bosom, and a cobweb of the same rich material floating from the
thick braids of her coal-black hair, came into the box, followed by a
gentleman so like her that people exclaimed at once:

"It is her brother!"

These two persons were accompanied by a bright young girl, in white
muslin, with a blue ribbon drawn through her hair like a snood, and a
string of large pearls on her neck. The girl was beautiful as a Hebe,
and bright as a star--so bright and so beautiful that a whole battery of
glasses was turned on the box the moment she entered it. Then a murmur
ran from lip to lip.

"It is Lady Hope, that person who was once a governess, and the young
lady must be Hope's daughter by his first marriage--the future Lady
Carset, if the old countess ever dies, which she never will, if it is
only to spite that woman yonder, whom she hates. Beautiful!"

"You are speaking of Lady Hope? Yes, very; but strange! Night and
morning are not farther apart than those two. Yet I am told they are
devoted to each other."

"Not unlikely. See how the woman smiles when the Hebe speaks to her!
Wonderful fascination in that face. Just the person to carry away a man
like Hope."

Here the conversation was broken off by an impatient outburst of the
audience.

In obedience to it the curtain rolled up, and the first act of
"Traviata" commenced.

The tumult stopped instantly, and every face was turned with expectation
on the stage, ready to greet "the lost one" with a generous welcome.

She came in hurriedly, with her head erect, her hand clenching that
cloud of lace to her bosom, and her eyes bright as stars. A stag hunted
to desperation would have turned at bay with a look like that; and the
poor animal might have recoiled as she did, when that wild burst of
admiration stormed over her. For the outcry of the most vicious hounds
that ever ran could not have been more appalling to a victim than that
generous welcome was to her.

She did not bow or smile, but retreated slowly back, step by step, until
a voice from behind the scene startled her. Then she bent her tall
figure a little forward, her head drooped to her bosom, and her hands
were clenched passionately under the laces.

Again those who were nearest heard the voice, but did not understand it
as that poor girl did. In her panic the little acting that belonged to
the