The Point of View

oor, and Ivan's voice saying his master desired her presence in the sitting-room at once, and

cannot be here now until the early morning perhaps-unless I send the automobile to Viterbo for her. The line is blocke

ore then, and if they should come upon us alone together, nothing that I could say or prove could keep the situation from looking compromising,"-h

ked gently, while she put her

e in the automobile with me to meet Anastasia. Your family must not find y

never entered her brain that it was a most unusual and even hazardous undertaking to start out into the night in a foreign land with a stranger sh

oak she had worn before, and with the veil tied over her hat, and was des

simply walking out of the hotel and down the street to where the car w

man and your aunt do come," he said, when they were seated in the car i

venture thrilling her, and the joy of her lover's presenc

been wise to risk any well-known place," and soon they drew up at a small cafe on the outskirts of Rome, where there were a few

ether, and Sasha Roumovski exerted himself to charm and please her. He had recovered complete mastery of himself, i

ldren, with all the exquisite under-current of love i

nt Roumovski said. "The ev

ella a

ts and pitfalls for the unwary. The jolting of the car constantly threw Stella almost into her lover's arms, who was sitting as aloof as possible. H

longed to him heart and body and soul were madly intoxicating as they rushed through the air. He dared not let himself care

n the glowing dusk, swam with tenderness and unconscious passion, and once she let her head rest upon his shoulder, when a violent jerk threw her toward him, and

grew perfectly dark, and the stars came out in myriads in the deep blue sky, and

esisted his strong desires,

ame to an end, and he sai

myself. I shall settle you comfortably among the furs where you must try

m, incomprehensible fear, and yet exaltation, and so she did not try to dissuade him

o have regained his usual calm as he helped her out with tender solicitude. The passengers, they lea

iven for Count Roumovski to walk on and find his sister. An

ris at a moment's notice like this, to do his bidding. It seemed a long time before she heard voices, and saw in the dim light two figure

ee her plainly, but I tell you she is the sweetest little lady in the wor

ine one as Count Roumovski's was for a man whispered kind, nice things in the fluent English which brother and sister b

re dawn," the princess said. "Sasha assures me

her little ear and that delicious little curl of hair in her neck. She had taken off her hat, that its brim might not hit the princess, and had only the soft veil wound round her head, which loosened itself conveniently. T

th the same short face and wide eyes as her brother. Stella and she made im

m Paris at his instantaneous bidding. He is the most splendid character in the world, only don't cross his

lla shyly. "I felt that at on

g what should be said in Stella's letter to her Aunt Caroline, a loud knock came to the door, and

lk morning wrapper round her like a statue, an

to write to Aunt Caroline to tell her where I am, quite safe, in case she was worried about me. Let me introduce you

r come to her. But she felt so joyous, so full of love and happiness, that

u are engaged to this gentleman. Your whole conduct has been a scandalous series of deceptions and you mu

s arms and clasped him round the neck. He was a short, portly man, and from this position she began to cajole h

to death. He hated having been dragged into this family quarrel, and secretly sympat

. "Don't say those dreadful things, I have not deceived anybody, I have known Count Roumovski since the day after we came to Rome, and-and-I love him very much, and you know I alway

the girl was very dear to him, and had always been so sweet a niece, a truthful, obedient ch

verything about the case, and, though I cannot consent to

da-Pesth two years ago-" and she turned to the young man and indicated that he should join her in the far window embrasure, which he did

y and so pleading. Then Count Roumovski took up the thread. He explained his position, and how his view of life had always been direct in its endeavo

egradation, otherwise,

tand a love which had sprung into being with such violence in the

old darling!" and she nestled up against his shoulder again. Caresses like these she was always obliged to suppress in her austere aunt's presence; they were only to be indulged in upon great occasions, and to gain an im

cle growled, bridling, but a

. "You cannot have another thing to say, exc

ent you, as I have tried to explain this morning to your aunt and Eustace, but it is all very shocking and unusual, and very disturbin

t without resentment. "Time, however, will prove whether I can take

with you, Sasha, to the ends of the earth now at once, and never ask you a single qu

e said," Canon Ebley stammered, upon which

gret this decision," Count Roumovski said gravely. "

ents and a witch of a girl purring over him and patting his cheek. He would have given in with a fair grace but for the awful

Princess Urazov came forward,

of his choice. And as you know and love your niece, can we not agree to try and make them happy together by giving them our blessing? After all, it is no crime for two young people to love each other!" and she put out her hands

tella, we both wish you all h

was constrained

, brushing aside the frightened waiter, who would have prevented them; then they stopped dead short, petrified with astonishment, a

Erasmus understands quite, and has gi

elings had been bruised in their tenderest parts, the laws of convention

Rev. Mr. Medlicott stood there glaring at the party to

graceful scene, but I shall not do so. And if my niece still persists in bringing shame upon us all I must beg y

t chord which was fine in Eustace Medlicott's heart. He seemed suddenly to see things as they were, and to realize that love had

ward and join

t. But I, for my part, wish to state now, in the presence of everyone, that if Miss Rawson can assure me she has made this choice of her own free will, and bec

t upon your goodness. I do indeed love Count Roumovski, and why should not we all be happy together? Yo

icott took it at last and wringing it silently

e company until he h

in his harassed li

an English gentleman, and since I have gained my st

d the Princess Urazov at last appeared t

ing holiday in Rome. It ended with a quiet wedding and tw

s newly made bride in his arms, he

barriers, and I can show you that

E