of the cloth and the quality of the glass, and the shape of the room
and its decoration.

And how insupportably commonplace the good English family seemed! That
bread-and-butter miss with her pink cheeks and fluffy hair, without a
hat! Women's hair should be black and grow in heavy waves. He was
certain of that now. How like them to come into a foreign restaurant
hatless, just because they were English and must impose their customs!
He sat and mused on it all, as he looked at his velvet-clad Queen. A
sense of complete joy and satisfaction stealing over him, his wild
excitement and emotion calmed for the time.

The delightful sensation of sharing a secret with her--a love-secret
known only to themselves. Think, if these Philistines guessed at it
even! their faces. And at this thought Paul almost laughed aloud.

With passionate interest he absorbed every little detail about his
lady. How exactly she knew what suited her. How refined and _grande
dame_ and quiet it all was, and what an air of breeding and command
she had in the poise of her little Greek head.

What did it matter what age she was, or of what nation? What did
anything matter since she was his? And at that thought his heart began
to beat again and cause him to speculate as to his evening.

Would she let him come back to the terrace room after dinner, or must
he get through the time as best he could? When he had left her, half
dazed with joy and languor, no arrangements had been made--no definite
plans settled. But of course she could not mean him not to wish her
good-night--not _now_. For one second before she left the room