of Eustace, her betrothed, talking to her, carried no meaning to
her brain, her whole intelligence was strung up to catch what the
others were saying.

With great dexterity the Russian presently made the conversation
general, and drew her into it, and then he said with composure
that the Gardens were illuminated--and, as it was such a very hot
night, would mademoiselle like to take a turn that way, to have
some refreshment? At the same moment, Mr. Deanwood gave Mrs. Ebley
his arm, and they all moved forward--followed by Canon Ebley and
the Rev. Eustace Medlicott, with no great joy upon his face.

Stella, meanwhile, felt herself being drawn rapidly ahead, and so
maneuvered that in a moment or two they had completely lost sight
of the rest of the relations, and were practically alone in a
crowd.

"At last!" Count Roumovski whispered, "even I, who am generally
calm, was beginning to feel I should rush over, throw prudence to
the winds and--" then he stopped abruptly, and Stella felt her
heart thump in her throat, while her little hand on his arm was
pressed against his side.

They made the pretense of taking some refreshment at the buffet,
and then went toward the open doors of the garden. The part all
round the house was illuminated, and numbers of people strolled
about, the night was deliciously warm. Count Roumovski seemed to
know the paths, for he drew his companion to a seat just beyond
the radius of the lights, and they sat down upon a bench under a
giant tree. He had not spoken a word, but now he leaned back and