wered Clara, with a
laugh full of good-natured scorn; "those things, they tell me, are at a
premium out yonder."

"Brave girl! You shame me by this generous energy."

"Shame you? not at all; only I happen to know that there is something
worth living for besides the things we hold so precious. A man, brave
enough to work out his own career, has taught me that real greatness is
not always hereditary. Ah! if you could only think so, too, Lord
Hilton, you would understand that there is nothing on earth so sweet as
the love for which we make sacrifices."

"What a strange girl you are, Lady Clara! Up to this time you have
seemed to me only a very pretty and very capricious child--a charming
child, truly, but--"

"There it is again," cried the girl falling back into her natural
manner; "everybody will insist on treating me like a child. Oh! how I
wish I was a little taller, like--like Caroline!"

Lord Hilton started, and a flood of recollections came back upon
him--that soft Italian sky, a flight of vine-draped terraces, and, on
the steps, that tall, beautiful girl watching for him. In this picture
he forgot Olympia and everything that had repulsed him.

"I shall never think of you as a child again, but as her friend--her
earnest, kind, noble friend!"

"And so I am. Oh! if I were a man, and loved her--"

"Well, what would you do in my place, supposing yourself a man, Lady
Clara?"

"This is what I would do: The old gentleman over yonder has a generous
heart, I dare say. I would first make my peace with that noble girl. It
would not be easy, I can tell you, for she is proud as an empress; but
she would be forgiving in the end, and for that I should adore her. Then
I would take her by the hand, lead her up to that kind old nobleman over
yonder--for I dare say, he is like my blessed grandmother, proud as
Lucifer and kind as an angel--and I would just tell him the truth, lay
the whole case before him, and either take his blessing on two bowed
heads, or throw down my title, gather up all that honorably belonged to
me, and carry my youth, my knowledge, and my energies into a country
where no man would question whether my wife had Olympia's blood in her
veins or not. This is what I would do, Lord Hilton."

"Lady Clara, I thank you."

Lord Hilton reached out his hand, smiling, but there was moisture in his
eyes.

"And you will do it?"

"First, Lady Clara, I must have her forgiveness for doubting her--for
being a cowar