proved so becoming? But there was another matter that disturbed him,
perhaps, quite as much as this. It was the fact that Dorothy would
not eat. Scarcely a mouthful of food passed her lips, although the
dishes were of the daintiest, and she barely tasted many which she
recommended heartily to him. Was she ill? or was it not the usual
hour for her evening meal? Manlike, Henley was distressed for
anything not endowed with a hearty appetite, and after the long cool
drive he was sure she ought to be hungry. When he ventured to allude
to the fact, and to remark that neither she nor Ah Ben ate like
country people, the girl only smiled and declared that they both ate
quite enough for their health, although she would never undertake to
judge for others. With this he had to be satisfied.

From time to time Paul's eyes would wander around the table; and from
its dainty dishes and exquisite flowers return to their true
lodestone, his hostess. In fact, the girl possessed a mesmeric charm
for him, which had grown with marvelous rapidity since his arrival.

"It is all wonderfully beautiful!" he said, looking straight into
Dorothy's eyes.

"I'm so glad you like it," she answered smiling, "but you're not
eating like a very hungry man."

She was helping his plate to a salad of cresses, to which she was
adding an extra spoonful of dressing.

"I think you will find this quite the correct thing," she added,
pushing the plate toward him.