that self-satisfied sage complacently. "Now, my dear, don't be
offended. I have known both you and your brother ever since you
were left little orphan children together; if I cannot speak
plainly to you, who can? You are in love, little Helen--and very
unwisely, too--with the man Gervase. I have heard of him often,
but I never saw him before to-night. And I don't approve of him."

Helen grew as pale as she had been rosy, and her face as the
moonlight fell upon it was very sorrowful.

"He stayed with us in Scotland two summers ago," she said softly.
"He was very agreeable..."

"Ha! No doubt! He made a sort of love to you then, I suppose. I
can imagine him doing it very well! There is a nice romantic glen
near your house--just where the river runs, and where I caught a
fifteen-pound salmon some five years ago. Ha! Catching salmon is
healthy work; much better than falling in love. No, no, Helen!
Gervase is not good enough for you; you want a far better man. Has
he spoken to you to-night?"

"Oh, yes! And he has danced with me."

"Ha! How often?"

"Once."

"And how many times with the Princess Ziska?"

Helen's fair head drooped, and she answered nothing. All at once