nothing!"

"He only eats about once a month, and then it's dates and hay and
camel's milk and carrots!" Ward was beginning. Royal Blondin gave
him a look, deeply amused and affectionate.

"Not quite so bad, Laddie!" he protested, mildly.

"We might manage the dates," Isabelle smiled. Harriet had not
spoken because she was quite unable to command her voice. But she
gained it now to say in an undertone:

"I think I shall have to go in, Mrs. Carter. I promised Nina some
help with her Spanish. I wonder--"

"You speak Spanish, Miss Field?" said Royal Blondin, in Spanish.

This was an invitation to Ward to burst into involved sentences in
the tongue; Royal Blondin turned to him seriously. The rest of the
company might be bored or not, as they pleased, but he was only
interested in testing the boy's accent and vocabulary. As a matter
of fact, everyone laughed and listened, perfectly appreciating
Ward's mad ventures and the other man's liquid and easy
assistance. A few seconds later Harriet Field slipped from her
place, crossed the terrace with her heart beating sick and fast
with fright, and made her escape.

She ran up the awninged steps that led to the square great hall,
and ascertained with relief that it was empty. On all sides wide
doorways gave her perspectives: the drawing rooms, in their