cia, who of late has had no really impassioned
love-making.

He puts his arm around her as he stands up to go, and experiences a
sort of tender contempt for her. He certainly could grow quite fond of
this willing slave, and he will let himself enjoy all the pleasure that
can be drained out of it.

Marcia opens the hall door for her lover and closes it again softly.
She meets Briggs coming in from fastening the library windows.

"Briggs," she remarks, "that was Mr. Wilmarth. I had some special
business with him. I have been drawing patterns; but I would rather his
call should not be mentioned."

Briggs bows obediently.

In her own room Marcia gives way to a wild delight. She is sure she
does not look to be over twenty, she is glad to be rather small, and
can imagine how she will appear beside Mr. Wilmarth's broad shoulders
and frowning face. Quite piquant and fairy-like, and then to love with
one's whole soul, unsuspected by the sharp eyes of critical kindred,
who do not appreciate her lover; to carry about a delicious secret, to
plan and to steal out to promised interviews, and at last,--for he has
hinted that he shall be a rather impatient wooer,--at last to surprise
them by a marriage. She can hardly compose herself to sleep, so busy
and excited are brain and nerves.

The musicale is a success, one of the enviable events of the season,
and there is a most charming supper afterward. Violet's enjoyment is
so perfect that she takes herself quite to task for not being better
friends with madame, since Mr. Grandon really desires it. Why should
she allow that old dead-and-gone ghost to walk in this bright present?
She is never troubled about Cecil's mother, and Mr. Grandon must have
loved her; she is never jealous of Cecil. This is nothing like
jealousy, she tells herself; it is a peculiar distrust; she does not
want madame to gain any influence over _her_. She is ready enough to
admit and to admire her wonderful beauty, but her presence seems like
some overpowering fragrance that might lull one into a dangerous sleep.

And yet Violet finds, as the time goes on, that she does come into her
life and smooths it mysteriously. Laura has less of that insolent
superiority when madame is present, and Mrs. Grandon seems more gentle.
Then madame can convey bits of society counsel so delicately, she
always seems to know just when Violet is not quite certain of any step.

"I should really have loved her at first," Violet half