Rose of the World

s." Scientist-he had begun his career as a doctor, had specialised in nervous complaints, narrowed his circle again to les néuroses des femmes; and, after establish

it, the palpitating examples he cited, with a discreet use of asterisks, set up a great flutter. Madame la Marquise was charmed when she recognised, or believed to recognise, cette chère Comtesse in a singularly eccentric case. Friends hunted for each other eagerly through the delicately veiled pages. Now and again a fair whilom patient would plume herself upon the belief that no other identity but her own could f

est sense of official dignity; the brilliant jargon of a brother writer; and last, but not least perhaps, a young wife of quite extraordinary beauty ... it would have been difficult to contrive a situation fraught with more satisfaction! The presence of a minor personality, such as that of Major Bethune, was no disturbing factor. Apart from the circumstance that Sir Arthur was large-minded enough to appreciate the admiration even of the humblest, there was a subtle thread of pleasure in the thought that "poor English's" friend should see and marvel at the good fortune that had fallen to the lot of "poor English'

observant eye, a sparkling readiness of repartee, and an appreciative palate, fell duly under the charm of the genial Lieutenant-Governor. The latter figured

ecision with which he watches over the true interests of his Old England in this land of her ever-rebellious adopted sons. Bien Anglo-Saxon, too, in his ceaseless devotion to duty and stern acceptance of da

had never been more br

*

e one side the lights of the town gleamed, red and orange, far below, and its myriad night clamour seemed to emphasise the apartness of the uplifted palace; upon the other s

a?tre étranger y eut pénétré. Appuyé centre la balustrade, de la terrasse je laissais plonger mon regard à travers les ténèbres jusque dans la vallée où luisaient, mystérieuses, innombrables, les lumières de la cité et me disais en moi-même: Nous voici donc, petit comité de la race conquérante qui n'a pourtant pas conquis; de la civilisation Européenne la plus écla

ss Cuningham, under the pretext of showing her from a particular corner of the terrace the tents of a new Engineer camp. Bab

as soon as they w

ed mop beg

us

ows together:

id I not promise?" The girl was reproachful

them upon the balustrade, and turned a s

again," he said

ed as indifferent to human emotion, as immutable, she thought, as one of the stone gods that, cross-legged and long-eyed, in unfathomable

otter, lucidly laying down the law of India, as interpreted by his own sagacity, his smo

g each indifferent phrase that dropped from her lips. As Major Bethune advanced towards them the yo

t Mr. Simpson's lowly stool, but one that placed him on a level with her; and then there came a little pause between them like the tension of the elements before the break of t

raight to

sion. Perhaps you do not understand that this

ing to spe

sibility in the mat

oint of view," he said,

, unmistakably showing her resolve of closing the discussion once

he exclaimed, "thi

oused to superlative beauty. Stronger became his conviction that here must

nly give me a r

sked for so easily, this raking up of the past? The past! is it

he said cuttingly; "i

raperies. And thus, once more baffled, Baby found him, stonily

succ

succ

r give it up,"

e determined not

little night-owl, with her round wide eyes and her pursed-up mouth. He suddenly

d in an urgent whisper,

could read her vacillating thought. He saw her hesitate and bent

p me, you must. Rem

running. She looked round over her shoulder: "I know it's beastly me

ut in his dark face. "I

e great mysterious, jewelled Indian night, into the lighted drawing-room. Here Lady Gerardine was quietly seated alone by a green-sha

laugh, "what has happened? Don't tell me that

siderably affected by the lax atmosphere of India. Aspasia had found it necessary, more than once, to put him in his place; and on the last occasion had confided to her aunt, with a noisy sigh, t

d, half unconsciously sketched a buff

looked the same side of th

I am not

said Aspasia, indef

Mr. Simps

irl, with supreme conte

r something, or some

une, I think. I don't believe he's

he gave her a remorseful hug and flew to t

mind into peaceful places; but to-night there was no wandering forth with Thoreau's pure ghost into the whispering green woods he loved. Stormy echoes from the past were in he

ar notes which she had been wont to reel off with the most perfect a

, Baby, even you! What has come into your music to-night? You have be

her aunt's voice, that cry of the soul. She did not dare follow the flying figure. "You have betrayed