ions. I would not have him think that I mistrust him.
No--there is some fault in me--something he does not like, or he would
never go to--" She broke off and stretched out her hands with a sort of
wild appeal. "Oh, Philip! my darling!" she exclaimed in a sobbing
whisper. "I always knew I was not worthy of you--but I thought,--I hoped
my love would make amends for all my shortcomings!"

Tears rushed into her eyes, and she turned to a little arched recess,
shaded by velvet curtains--her oratory--where stood an exquisite white
marble statuette of the Virgin and Child. There she knelt for some
minutes, her face hidden in her hands, and when she rose she was quite
calm, though very pale. She freshened her face with cold water,
rearranged her disordered hair,--and then went downstairs, thereby
running into the arms of her husband who was coming up again to look, as
he said, at his "Sleeping Beauty."

"And here she is!" he exclaimed joyously. "Have you rested enough, my
pet?"

"Indeed, yes!" she answered gently. "I am ashamed so be so lazy. Have
you wanted me, Philip?"

"I always want you," he declared. "I am never happy without you."

She smiled and sighed. "You say that to please me," she said half
wistfully.

"I say it because it is true!" he asserted proudly, putting his arm
round her waist and escorting her in this manner down the great
staircase. "And you know it, you sweet witch! You're just in time to see
the lighting up of the grounds. There'll be a good view from the
picture-gallery--lots of the people have gone in there--you'd better
come too, for it's chilly outside."

She followed him obediently, and her reappearance among her guests was
hailed with enthusiasm,--Lady Winsleigh being particular effusive,
almost too much so.

"Your headache has quite gone, dearest, hasn't it?" she inquired
sweetly.

Thelma eyed her gravely. "I did not suffer from the headache, Clara,"
she said. "I was a little tired, but I am quite rested now."

Lady Winsleigh bit her lips rather vexedly, but said no more, and at
that moment exclamations of delight broke from all assembled at the
brilliant scene that suddenly flashed upon their eyes. Electricity, that
radiant sprite whose magic wand has lately been bent to the service of
man, had in less than a minute played such dazzling pranks in the
gardens that they resembled the fabled treasure-houses discovered by
Aladdin. Every tree glittered with sparkling clusters of red, blue,