seemed a long time before she heard voices, and saw in the dim
light two figures advancing from the station entrance, and then
Count Roumovski opened the door of the automobile, and Stella
started forward to get out.

"Anastasia, this is my Stella," he said, in his deep voice. "You
cannot see her plainly, but I tell you she is the sweetest little
lady in the world, and you are to hasten to love each other as
much as I love you both."

Then in the half dark Stella stepped down and found herself
embraced by a tall woman, while a voice as deep for a feminine one
as Count Roumovski's was for a man whispered kind, nice things in
the fluent English which brother and sister both used. And a
feeling of warmth and security and happiness came over the poor
child, to be in a haven of rest at last.

"Now we shall all pack in and get to Rome before dawn," the
princess said. "Sasha assures me the automobile will be faster
than the train."

So it was arranged, and, with Stella between them, the two
Russians sat in the commodious back seat, and this time Count
Roumovski allowed himself to encircle his beloved with his arm--
and very often surreptitiously kissed her little ear and that
delicious little curl of hair in her neck. She had taken off her
hat, that its brim might not hit the princess, and had only the
soft veil wound round her head, which loosened itself
conveniently. This drive back to Rome was a time of pure
enchantment to them both. And when the first streaks of dawn were