being unaware that he was not alone--though Stella could feel that
he was touching her hand--perhaps unconsciously. He seemed to
radiate some kind of joy for her always, and the pink grew to that
of a June rose in her cheeks, and her brown eyes shone like two
stars.

"That was the man you spoke of in the hall, Mrs. Ebley, was it
not?" Eustace Medlicott's intoning voice said, as they went along
to the restaurant. "He certainly is a most remarkable person to
look at close--but I do not dislike his face, it has noble lines."

"Really, how condescending of you!" Stella almost said aloud. But
the Aunt Caroline answered serenely:

"Perhaps I am prejudiced, Eustace, but want of convention always
shocks me to such a degree that I cannot appreciate anything
else."

Stella almost enjoyed her dinner, she was so excited with the
prospect of some unknown coming events, and she had the
satisfaction of observing that once Count Roumovski actually
turned his head in their direction and met her eyes. His were full
of a whimsical smile for the instant he looked, and then he
relapsed into his habitual indifference.

The crowd had begun to thicken when they got to the Embassy, and
they waited among them for the Royalties' arrival; Stella looking
at everything with fresh, interested eyes. When this ceremony was
over people began to disperse about the large rooms, and Miss
Rawson was conscious that her strange secret acquaintance was in