Fairy Fingers

e to his impetuous spirit. Multitudes of arguments were driven through his mind in lon

rth by their cruelty, until she had proclaimed their pardon by again taking up her abode at the Chateau de Gramont. Madeleine, who shrank from all strife, who moved in an atmosphere of harmony, which seemed to envelop her wherever she went, would not lift her hand to sever the s

uttering a word that could reach her ear alone. Now he fancied she had granted him a private interview,-that she was sitting by his side, but resolute, unconvinced, unmoved, while he besieged her with arguments, appealed to her with all the passionate

d Maurice stood before one of the most sumptuous of the magnificent edifices which adorn that aristocratic locality. The windows were thrown open, and the richly embroidered lace curtains drawn back, for the evening was more than usually sultry. He crossed to the opposite side of the street, and took up a position which enabled him to distinguish forms moving about the spacious drawing-room. With what straining eyes and breathless anxiety

outline, that slender, flexible throat, that exquisitely-shaped head, about which he thought he traced the coronal braid that usually crowned her noble brows,-these could belong to Madeleine only! Could he fail to recognize them anywhere or at any distance? The longer he gazed the more certain he became that it was she herself,-that she was found at last! How eagerly he watched to see her turn, and render

ndows closed. Other lights brightened the casements above. Still Maurice remained riveted to the spot, unreasonably hoping to behold Madeleine for one fleeting mome

-state of mind. The length or briefness of the hour is so completely governed by the mood of one's spirits that it becomes easy for those who have learned this truth from experience to conceive a thousand years but as a day t

dreds of times as that night dragged its leaden,

ned might have diverted his attention; but one engrossing thought so completely filled his whole being that it rendered him blind to all the marvels of art or beauties of nature. Yet to remain imprisoned at the hotel was out of the question. He concluded to spend his morning in Hyde Park, chiefly because it was not far distant from Grosvenor Square. But the attractions of the noble pa

sun reached its meridian, he absolved himself from the propriety of waiting

opened by a s

Vivian

t home

mean the young lady who acco

t home

hen I shall be lik

ve no orders on

perplexed, a

ease, sir," suggested

call again

ense was intolerable; he could only endure it for

ttendant reappea

Vivian r

eturne

end upon seeing her? I call upo

ere pondering upon the propriety of makin

the stolid domestic, accustomed to behold only the conventional composure which allows no

large party to Hampton Court. Their l

Maurice, in an acce

rmation, and made a dignified attempt to put a close to the interview, by ext

ing a card: I shall return. At w

even,

liberty of call

y thought it was a liberty, and Maurice

n and Madeleine, there; nothing was more likely, since they were to spend the day. His spirits revived as he signalled an empty cab, and requested to be driven as rapidly as possible to Hampton Court. H

ent apartments, one after another, without noticing their gorgeous grandeur, without glancing at their superb decorations, without wasting a look upon the wondrous products of brush

to be seen. They were doubtless ramb

eyes dwell upon any object but the human beings he passed. Still no Madeleine. He made the tour of the palace the

t price which the man, knowing he had to deal with a stranger, demanded, and took refuge in his chamber, without re

he had anticipated; for to dine without appetite is a tedious undertaking. His own busy

t selon les regles; but all ceremony must give way before the urgency of his mission. He

very presence of the automaton chilled

Vivian

indisposed and

ademoiselle

m, s

who accompanie

ivian; but I will t

alternative and

tly beg to see her

a message which conveyed the suggestion that any

om. A long interval, or one Maurice thought

py to see you, sir, to-

killing that which could never be restored,-time! But here, at least, was a definite appoi

mpersonation of "King John," which was to be represented that evening, and th

nsume the hours between breakfast and two o'clock? He must go somewhere; must keep on his feet; must give his restless limbs free action. He bethought him of St. Paul's and Westminster Abbey. These majestic edifices were associated with the memory of those who had done with time, and might assist him in the time-annihilati

ive to Grosvenor Square, number --. It was just two,-hardly two, perhaps. The inevitable footma

see him,-very flattered at his visit. When did he come to London? W

to her inquiries, and then asked, "May I b

" exclaimed Lady Vivian,

e is engaged as your humb

the pleasure of

not have sprung from his seat with a wilder bou

ill? Would he take anything? He had been very much fatigued, perhaps.

tunning blow, he faltered out, "I heard that yo

afterward I heard of a young person who suited me much better. I thought it was a mistake of the footman's, last night, when he said you desired to see the young lady who accompanied me. It was so

y of tracing her, pressed upon him and rent his soul with fiercer throes than before. Muttering some hurried apology, he rose, staggered toward the do