night when I--when I accompanied her home. But I never passed her
palace gates,--she wouldn't let me. She bade me 'good-night'
outside; a servant admitted her, and she vanished through the
portal like a witch or a ghost. Sometimes I fancy she IS a ghost.
She is so white, so light, so noiseless and so lovely!"

He turned his eyes away, ashamed of the emotion that moved him.
Dr. Maxwell Dean took off his academic cap and examined its
interior as though he considered it remarkable.

"Yes," he said slowly; "I have thought the same thing of her
myself--sometimes."

Further conversation was interrupted by the entrance of the
military band of the evening, which now crossed the "lounge," each
man carrying his instrument with him; and these were followed by
several groups of people in fancy dress, all ready and eager for
the ball. Pierrots and Pierrettes, monks in drooping cowls,
flower-girls, water-carriers, symbolic figures of "Night" and
"Morning," mingled with the counterfeit presentments of dead-and-
gone kings and queens, began to flock together, laughing and
talking on their way to the ball-room; and presently among them
came a man whose superior height and build, combined with his
eminently picturesque, half-savage type of beauty, caused every
one to turn and watch him as he passed, and murmur whispering
comments on the various qualities wherein he differed from
themselves. He was attired for the occasion as a Bedouin chief,
and his fierce black eyes, and close-curling, dark hair, combined
with the natural olive tint of his complexion, were well set off
by the snowy folds of his turban and the whiteness of his entire