"Wishing any one to be original," said Ronald, smiling at her
quick, eager ways, "immediately deprives one of all thought. I
must have time; it seems to me you have exhausted every subject."

"An artist has never-failing resources," she replied; "when every
'fount of inspiration' is closed it will be time to tell me there
are no ideas. You must have seen many charades, Mrs. Thorne,"
she said, turning suddenly to Dora; "they are very popular in
England. Tell me of some."

Dora blushed. She thought of the lodge and its one small parlor,
and then felt wretched and uncomfortable, out of place, and
unhappy.

"I have never seen any charades," she said, stiffly, and with
crimson cheeks.

The countess opened her blue eyes in surprise, and Ronald looked
anxiously from one to the other.

"My wife was too young when we were married to have seen much of
the world," he said, inwardly hoping that the tears he saw
gathering in Dora's dark eyes would not fall.

"Ah, then, she will be of no use in our council," replied the
countess, quickly. "Let us go out on the terrace; there is
always inspiration under an Italian sky."

She led the way to a pretty veranda on the terrace, and they sat
under the shade of a large spreading vine.