be puffectly candid, I've thought the same once or
twice when I've caught sight of myself in a mirror at a big moment, when
I was all worked up!--Big moments are vury suiting, but on ordinary
days" (Cornelia put a strong accent on the penultimate), "my nose," she
closed one eye to regard with the other the sharp little tip of the
member in question, "there's no getting away from it, that my nose is a
set-back! It's a mean little thing, without a mite of dignity. And I'm
kinder washed-out and pasty by your English roses! Do you think I
should look better if my cheeks were pink like Elma's?"

She looked at him with arch inquiry, and even as she did so, either as
the result of something which she read in the watching eyes, or by the
action of some mysterious mental power, the pink flamed in her cheek,
and lo! she was a rose herself; a wonderful, exotic rose, flaming from
red to gold! Guest looked at her for a moment, and then hastily dropped
his eyes. He was not by nature an impetuous man, but he had a
conviction that if he looked at Cornelia any longer at this moment, he
might say something which he should afterwards regret.

He did not answer. It seemed unnecessary to answer. His eyes had done
that eloquently enough in that moment of meeting. There was a long
silence, while Guest mentally pulled himself together, calling himself a
fool for his pains; recalling the fact that by her own confession
Cornelia was an accomplished flirt; steeling himself against her
blandishments. When presently he heard his name pronounced in dulcet
tones, he looked up with his most unapproachable air. Cornelia was
holding her plate towards him with one hand, while with the other she
held a fragment of cake to her lips.

"Another piece, please!" she commanded. "It's the best thing I've
struck since I've been this side, and I'm going to wolf into it for all
I'm worth! Ordinary meals bore the life out of me, but I'm just wicked
when I get started on sweets!"

Guest signalled to a damsel in attendance, and saw her eyes widen in
amazement at the renewed order. She walked away suppressing a smile,
and could be observed obviously retailing the incident to a companion
behind the counter. It detracted woefully from the romance of the
situation to be pointed out as a couple who had demolished a large
plateful of cakes, and sent out an order for more!

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

Before parting from Cornelia at the hotel, Guest made a po