"That's the eldest sister; the two other sisters went out on
the coach this morning to Versailles, and were too tired to
come tonight. At least, so Nolan says. He seems to have
established a friendship for their English maid, but whether
it's on my account or his own I don't know. I doubt his
unselfishness."

"How disappointing of her!" said Miss Morris. "And after you
had selected a box just across the way, too. It is such a
pity to waste it on us." Carlton smiled, and looked up at her
impudently, as though he meant to say something; but
remembering that she was engaged to be married, changed his
mind, and lowered his eyes to his programme.

"Why didn't you say it?" asked Miss Morris, calmly, turning
her glass to the stage. "Wasn't it pretty?"

"No," said Carlton--"not pretty enough."

The ladies left the hotel the next day to take the Orient
Express, which left Paris at six o'clock. They had bidden
Carlton goodbye at four the same afternoon, and as he had come
to their rooms for that purpose, they were in consequence a
little surprised to see him at the station, running wildly
along the platform, followed by Nolan and a porter. He came
into their compartment after the train had started, and shook
his head sadly at them from the door.

"Well, what do you think of this?" he said. "You can't get