Richard, and she herself seems very much in love with him."

All this time he had stood very still and looked at her, but his face
had changed slowly as she spoke. I knew then that what she had said had
not pleased him. She went on in her babbling, soft voice:

"His sister Sophie isn't pleased, of course, so there is nothing said
about it here. It _is_ rather hard for her, for the place belongs to
Richard, and besides, Richard has been very generous to her always. And
then to see him marry just such a sort of person--you know--so young--"

"Yes--so young," said Mr. Langenau, between his teeth, "and of such
charming innocence."

"Oh, as to that," said Mary Leighton, piqued beyond prudence, "we all
have our own views as to that."

The largess due the bearer of good news was not by right the meed of
Mary Leighton. He looked at her as if he hated her.

"Mr. Richard Yandermarck is a fortunate man," he said. "She has rare
beauty, if he has a taste for beauty."

"Men sometimes tire of that; if indeed she has it. Her coloring is her
strong point, and that may not last forever;" and Mary's voice was no
longer silvery.

"You think so?" he said. "I think her grace is her strong point, '_la
grâce encore plus belle que la beauté_,' and longer-lived beside. Few
women move as she does, making it a pleasure to follow her with the