appeared to be an object of almost religious regard with them. This
would make me quite independent, and teach me how to avoid blundering in
the future, or giving expression to any more "extraordinary delusions."
On opening the volume I was greatly surprised to find that it was richly
illuminated on every leaf, the middle only of each page being occupied
with a rather narrow strip of writing; but the minute letters,
resembling Hebrew characters, were incomprehensible to me. I bore the
disappointment very cheerfully, I must say, for I am not over-fond of
study; and, besides, I could not have paid proper attention to the text,
surrounded with all that distracting beauty of graceful design and
brilliant coloring.

After a while Yoletta came slowly across the room, her fingers engaged
with some kind of wool-work as she walked, and my heart beat fast when
she paused by my side.

"You are not reading," she said, looking curiously at me. "I have been
watching you for some time."

"Have you indeed?" said I, not knowing whether to feel flattered or not.
"No, unfortunately, I can't read this book, as I do not understand the
letters. But what a wonderfully beautiful book it is! I was just
thinking what some of the great London book-buyers--Quaritch, for
instance--would be tempted to give for it. Oh, I am forgetting--you have
never heard his name, of course; but--but what a beautiful book it is!"

She said nothing in reply, and only looked a little
surprised--disgusted, I feared--at my ignorance, then walked away. I had
hoped that she was going to talk to me, and with keen disappointment
watched her moving across the floor. All the glory seemed now to have