will be such a delight to me to give you everything you wish for."

Stella smiled shyly. It seemed suddenly to bring realities of
things before her with keen force. He would have the right to give
her everything in the world--this man whom she did not really
know, but whom she felt she loved very much. She clasped her hands
and a thrill ran through her. What, what did it all mean? The idea
of her marriage with Eustace Medlicott had always appeared as an
ugly vision, an end to everything, a curtain which was yet drawn
over a view which could only be all dusk and gray shadows, and
which she would rather not contemplate. But now the thought of
going away and beginning a new existence with Sasha Roumovski was
something so glorious and delicious that she quivered with joy at
any reference to it.

Her little movement and the clasping of her hands affected him
profoundly. He, too, quivered, but with the stern effort to
control himself. It was part of his code of honor. Not the
slightest advantage must be taken of the situation while Stella
was alone and unchaperoned, although the very fact of their
propinquity and the knowledge of their solitude were extremely
exciting to him, who knew the meaning of every emotion. He drew a
little away from her, and said in a voice that sounded cold:

"I have seen the consul this afternoon. It will take three weeks,
I am afraid, before we can be legally married here in Rome. It
seems an eternity to me."

"Yes," agreed Stella, and suddenly looked down. She wished
intensely that he would caress her a little--although she was