n general, Zewlinski, an
officer over six feet in height, with white hair and wide white
mustaches, a distinguished figure in the brilliant Hungarian
uniform. Those of his staff near by added additional vividness to
the picture. The ladies of the party, half of whom spoke English,
were costumed quite in keeping, and endeavored by the graciousness
of their manner to add to the good impression already formed by
their more brilliant companions. Here and there the more sober
uniform of an American army or navy officer might have been seen,
brought thither on demand of his lady. The ladies themselves were
out in force, and in their most brilliant array. The doors had not
been opened for a half hour before all prophecies were more than
fulfilled. The rooms were packed with a struggling mass of
humanity, all eager to grasp the hand of the representative of
Hungary and of the members of his company. Patriotism, liberty,
brotherly love were in the speech of all. Never has our country
been more full of zeal for liberty than then, never more
inconsistent, never more swiftly forgetful.

In these circumstances, the somewhat bewildered commissioners did
what they could graciously to discover to all their friendly
feeling toward this country. For more than an hour they stood in
line, bowing, smiling, accepting hands, offering greetings, a
little wondering perhaps, yet none the less well assured of the
attitude of this people toward their own country, and hoping there
might later be substantial financial proof of its sincerity.

It was at about this time that there entered at the door near the
head of the receiving line a young woman, for the time apparently
quite unattended. She was brilliantly robed, with jewels flashing
at neck and wrists, clad like a queen and looking one. Of good
height and splendid carriage, her dark hair and singularly striking
features might at first have caused the belief that she was one of
this party of foreigners, toward whom she now advanced. A second
glance would have shown her beauty to be of that universal
world-quality which makes its owner difficult to classify, although
assured of approval in any quarter of the world.

[Illustration: Clad like a queen and looking one.]

That this lady was acquainted with social pageants might have been
in the first instant quite evidenced by her comportment here. Many
eyes turned toward her as she approached the head of the line. She
was unconscio