The Point of View

ly by Martha, her uncle and aunt having decided they would take a rest and write their English letters. The museum was so near,

hing proper and correct, she would have no chance of any conversation. The brilliant sunlight felt incongruous and hurt her, and she was glad to enter the shady ancient baths. She had glanced furtively to right and left in the hotel as she came through the hall, but saw no one who resembled the Russian, and they had walked so quickly through the vestibule she

in sculpture. "Them naked creatures," she called any masterpiece undraped-and

Miss Rawson, who looked a slim enough nymph herself in her lil

ware that an archaic Apollo clad in modern dress had entered upon

se, and glanced with longing eyes at a

Miss Rawson said. "There is not a creature about, and

turous-looking, and Miss Stella would be more or less under her eye-and she was thoroughly tired with tra

and vases in the center of the garden plot gave on

ollection she perceived him to the right,

is calm eyes took in the fact that she was alone. The small room wa

raction. I knew I should presently find you here-so when I caught si

ying to suppress the sudden tingle of pleasure that was thril

and talk?" Count Roumovski asked serenely, and then smiled to himself as he noticed his

ut of doors-but-" a

will warn us when your maid wakes. See-" and he advanced toward the entrance d

fter all, it was her last chance-Eustace

companion inspired confidence. She almost felt she would not

ngs he said were less abstract and more personal. After an entrancing half hour she felt she had seen vivid pictu

d at last. "To watch all the rushing currents which dominate human beings when they do not know how to manipulate them. If they did,

u please, then?" Stella asked surprised, while she raised

teach you, madem

, in

ng eyelashes gives me a pleasure-I would prefer the eyes themselves-the eyes are th

t she met his blue orbs wit

thful servant of my Emperor. Since I am not a soldier, I can do as I choose. But you in England are now in a seething caldron, and it would be di

and need not interest myself in the nation's affai

rrent of that mood-you become in touch, so to speak, with all the other people who are under its dominion, and so it gains strength because unity is strength. If you can understand that as a basic principle, you can see

and," said Stella,

ctions of what is best-and you must encourage common sen

es

hing but a cultivation of our individual critical faculties can enable us to see the truth-and nine-te

," said Stella, thin

that it succeeds-merely how much strength

over evil," and the brown eyes looked almost

me to pass by all these psychic laws. Whatever we

made straight and just go on calmly, I should be happy, should I?" she asked

ir chance-probably you have never been allowed t

" said

to this good clergyman of your own w

training of years took offense,

ve the right to ask me

mov

roked his pointed silky beard f

s you pleased, you must remember. It is rather essential that I should k

void the

ercises, unless one has some idea of how far the individual was responsible for the present state

hich grew upon a bush beside them: she pulled its petals off and

ur own wish, but that you are afraid to face the fact and admit that its aspect appals you. You must remember, in your country, where, I un

seeching eyes to

" she pleaded. "It is so warm and

hile with penetrating ey

e you are in need of direction. Leave all to me-and forget there is any one else in the world for the momen

blushed crimson at the inference of her speech. He would be able to understand per

adness came i

its delicate tints, and your eyes are true and tender and asking so many questions of life,-and sometimes t

will set in," Stella was almos

o not value my three matchless pearls the less because I know their every iridescence-on th

ce this sweet young creature into the gray walls of a prison house, when she became the English clergyman's wife; it was too revolting to him. Count Roumovski suddenly made up his mind, trained to instantaneous decision by his bent of studies, and sure and decided in its action. And if Stella had looked up then she would have seen a keen gleam in the peaceful blue of his eyes. He drew her on to talk of her home and

denly to her feet. A

ft," she announced demurely, "so I am bein

oumovski said. "I told him to, and he will let us know in plenty o

is Ivan?" S

Had we only trusted to the probability of your maid's sleeping, I should have had to be on the lookout, and my uneasiness would have communicated itse

good deal interested in her, then; and feeling sure of this, womanli

night the wheel of fortune will revolve for us all, and it

motionless sentinel, and here Count Roumovski bowed and turned on his hee

sed an eye, but thought Miss Stella was enjoying "them statues"

le and aunt! It behooved her not to be tired by more sightseeing, since her betrothed would arrive when they returned for tea, and would expect her to b