The Author's Press Series of the Works of Elinor Glyn

THE POINT OF VIEW

ELINOR GLYN

CHAPTER I

The restaurant of the Grand Hotel in Rome was filling up. Peoplewere dining rather late--it was the end of May and theentertainments were lessening, so they could dawdle over theirrepasts and smoke their cigarettes in peace. 

Stella Rawson came in with her uncle and aunt, Canon and theHonorable Mrs. Ebley, and they took their seats in a secludedcorner. They looked a little out of place--and felt it--amid thismore or less gay company. But the drains of the Grand Hotel wereknown to be beyond question, and, coming to Rome so late in theseason, the Reverend Canon Ebley felt it was wiser to risk thecontamination of the over-worldly-minded than a possible attack oftyphoid fever. The belief in a divine protection did not give himor his lady wife that serenity it might have done, and theytraveled fearfully, taking with them their own jaeger sheets amongother precautions. 

They realized they must put up with the restaurant for meals, butat least the women folk should not pander to the customs of theplace and wear evening dress. Their subdued black gowns werefastened to the throat. Stella Rawson felt absolutely excited--shewas twenty-one years old, but this was the first time she had everdined in a fashionable restaurant, and it almost seemed likesomething deliciously wrong. 

Life in the Cathedral Close where they lived in England was nothighly exhilarating, and when its duties were over it containedonly mild gossip and endless tea-parties and garden-parties by wayof recreation. 

Canon and the Honorable Mrs. Ebley were fairly rich people. TheUncle Erasmus' call to the church had been answered frominclination--not necessity. His heart was in his work. He was agood man and did his duty according to the width of the lights inwhich he had been brought up. 

Mrs. Ebley did more than her duty--and had often too muchmomentum, which now and then upset other people's apple carts. 

She had, in fact, been the moving spirit in the bringing about ofher niece Stella's engagement to the Bishop's junior chaplain, ayoung gentleman of aesthetic aspirations and eight hundred a yearof his own. 

Stella herself had never been enthusiastic about the affair. As aman, Eustace Medlicott said absolutely nothing at all to her--though to be sure she was quite unaware that he was inadequate inthis respect. No man had meant anything different up to thisperiod of her life. She had seen so few of them she was no judge. 

Eustace Medlicott had higher collars than the other curates, andintoned in a wonderfully melodious voice in the cathedral. Andquite a number of the young ladies of Exminster, including theBishop's second daughter, had been setting their caps at him fromthe moment of his arrival, so that when, by the maneuvers of AuntCaroline Ebley, Stella found him proposing to her, she somehowallowed herself to murmur some sort of consent. 

Then it seemed quite stimulating to have a ring and to becongratulated upon being engaged. And the few weeks that followedwhile the thing was fresh and new had passed quite pleasantly. Itwas only when about a month had gone by that a gradual and growingweariness seemed to be falling upon her. 

To be the wife of an aesthetic high church curate, who fastedseverely during Lent and had rigid views upon most subjects, beganto grow into a picture which held out less and less charm for her. 

But Aunt Caroline was firm--and the habit of twenty-one years ofobedience held. 

Perhaps Fate was looking on in sympathy with her unrest. In anycase, it appeared like the jade's hand and not chance which madeUncle Erasmus decide to take his holiday early in the year and todecide to spend it abroad--not in Scotland or Wales as was hiscustom. 

Stella, he said, should see the eternal city and Florence beforesettling down in the autumn to her new existence. 

Miss Rawson actually jumped with joy--and the knowledge thatEustace Medlicott would be unable to accompany them, but mightjoin them later on, did not damp her enthusiasm. 

Every bit of the journey was a pleasure, from the moment theylanded on French soil. They had come straight through to Rome fromParis, where they had spent a week at a small hotel; because ofthe lateness of the year they must get to their southern pointfirst of all and return northward in a more leisurely manner. 

And now anyone who is reading this story can picture thisrespectable English family and understand their status andantecedents, so we can very well get back to them seated in theagreeable restaurant of the Grand Hotel at Rome--beginning topartake of a modest dinner. 

Mrs. Ebley (I had almost written the Reverend Mrs. Ebley!) wassecretly enjoying herself--she had that feeling that she was in aplace where she ought not to be--through no fault of her own--andso was free to make the most of it, and certainly these well-dressed people were very interesting to glance at betweenmouthfuls of a particularly well-cooked fish. 

Stella was thrilling all over and her soft brown eyes weresparkling and her dazzlingly pink and white complexion glowingwith health and excitement, so that even in the Exminsterconfection of black grenadine she was an agreeable morsel for themale eye to dwell upon. 

There were the usual company there: the younger diplomats from theEmbassies; a sprinkling of trim Italian officers in their prettyuniforms; French and Austrian ladies; as well as the attractive-looking native and American representatives of the elite of Romansociety. 

The tables began to fill up before the Ebleys had finished theirfish, and numbers of the parties seemed to know one another andnod and exchange words en passant. 

But there was one table laid for a single person which remainedempty until the entrees were being handed, and Stella, with herfresh interest in the whole scene, wondered for whom it wasreserved. 

He came in presently--and he really merits a descriptive paragraphall to himself. 

He was a very tall man and well made, with broad shoulders and asmall head. His evening clothes, though beautifully pressed, withthat look which only a thoroughly good valet knows how to stampupon his master's habiliments as a daily occurrence, were offoreign cut and hand, and his shirt, unstarched, was of the finestpleated cambric. 

These trifles, however, were not what rendered him remarkable, butthat his light brown hair was worn parted in the middle and wavedback a la vierge with a rather saintly expression, and wasapparently just cut off in a straight line at the back. This wasquite peculiar-looking enough--and in conjunction with a young, silky beard, trimmed into a sharp point with the look of anarchaic Greek statue, he presented a type not easily forgotten. The features were regular and his eyes were singularly calm andwise and blue. 

It seemed incredible that such an almost grotesque arrangement ofcoiffure should adorn the head of a man in modern evening dress. It should have been on some Byzantine saint. However, there hewas, and entirely unconcerned at the effect he was producing. 

The waiters, who probably knew his name and station, precipitatedthemselves forward to serve him, and with leisurely mien heordered a recherche dinner and a pint of champagne. 

Stella Rawson was much interested and so were her uncle and aunt. 

"What a very strange-looking person, " Mrs. Ebley said. "Of whatnation can he be? Erasmus, have you observed him?"

Canon Ebley put on his pince-nez and gave the newcomer the benefitof a keen scrutiny. 

"I could not say with certainty, my dear. A northerner evidently--but whether Swedish or Danish it would be difficult to determine, "he announced. 

"He does not appear to know he is funny-looking, " Stella Rawsonsaid, timidly. "Do you notice, Aunt Caroline, he does not lookabout him at all, he has never glanced in any direction; it is asif he were alone in the room. "

"A very proper behavior, " the Aunt Caroline replied severely, "buthe cannot be an Englishman--no Englishman would enter a publicplace, having made himself remarkable like that, and then be ableto sit there unaware of it; I am glad to say our young men havesome sense of convention. You cannot imagine Eustace Medlicottperfectly indifferent to the remarks he would provoke if he weretricked out so. "

Stella felt a sudden sympathy for the foreigner. She had heard soceaselessly of her fiance's perfections!

"Perhaps they wear the hair like that in his country, " shereturned, with as much spirit as she dared to show. "And he maythink we all look funny, as we think he does. Only he seems to bemuch better mannered than we are, because he is quite sure ofhimself and quite unconscious or indifferent about our opinion. "

Both her aunt and uncle looked at her with slightly shockedsurprise--and she saw it at once and reddened a little. 

But this incident caused the remarkable looking foreigner tocrystallize in interest for her, especially when, in raising hisglass of champagne, she saw that on his wrist there was a braceletof platinum with a small watch set with very fine diamonds. Shecould hardly have been more surprised if he had worn a ring in hisnose, so unaccustomed was she to any type but that of the curatesand young gentlemen of Exminster. 

Canon and Mrs. Ebley finished their dinner in disdainful silenceand sailed from the room with chilling glances, but as StellaRawson followed them demurely she raised her soft eyes when shecame to the object of her relatives' contempt, and met his sereneblue ones--and for some reason thrilled wildly. 

There was a remarkable and powerful magnetism in his glance; itwas as if a breath of some other world touched her, she seemed tosee into possibilities she had never dreamed about. She resentedbeing drawn into a far corner on the right hand of the hall, andthere handed an English paper to read for half an hour beforebeing told to go to bed. She was perfectly conscious that she waslonging for the stranger to come out of the restaurant, that shemight see him again. 

But it was not until she was obediently following her aunt's blackbroche train to the lift up the steps again that the tall manpassed them in the corridor. He never even glanced in theirdirection, and went on as though the space were untenanted--buthad hardly got beyond, when he turned suddenly, and walked rapidlyto the lift door, passing them again. So that the four entered itpresently, and were taken up together. 

Stella Rawson was very close to the remarkable looking creature. And again a wild nameless attraction crept over her. She noticedhis skin was faintly browned with the sun, but was otherwise asfine as a child's--finer than most children's. And now she couldsee that three most wonderful pearls were his shirt-studs. 

He got out on the second floor, one beneath them, and said, "Pardon, " as he passed, but not as a French word, nor yet as if itwere English. 

During these few seconds Stella was quite aware that he had neverapparently looked at her. 

"I call such an appearance sacrilegious, " Mrs. Ebley said. "A manhas no right to imitate one of the blessed apostles in thesemodern days; it is very bad taste. "

CHAPTER II

Stella Rawson woke the next day with some sense of rebellion. There came with the rest of her post a letter from her betrothed. And although it was just such a letter as any nice girl engaged ofher own free will to the Bishop's junior chaplain ought to havebeen glad to receive, Stella found herself pouting and criticizingevery sentence. 

"I do wish Eustace would not talk such cant, " she said to herself. "Even in this he is unable to be natural--and I am sure I shallnot feel a thing like he describes when I stand in St. Peter's. Ibelieve I would rather go into the Pantheon. I seem to be tired ofeverything I ought to like to-day!" And still rebellious she gotup and was taken by her uncle and aunt to the Vatican--and wasallowed to linger only in the parts which interested them. 

"I never have had a taste for sculpture, " Mrs. Ebley said. "Peoplemay call it what names they please, but I consider it immoral andindecent. "

"A wonder to me, " the Uncle Erasmus joined in, "that a prelate--even a prelate of Rome--should have countenanced the housing ofall these unclothed marbles in his own private palace. "

Stella Rawson stopped for a second in front of an archaic Apolloof no great merit--because it reminded her of the unknown; and shewished with all her might something new and swift and rushingmight come into her humdrum life. 

After luncheon, for which they returned to the hotel, she wearilywent over to the writing-table in the corner of the hall to answerher lover's chaste effusion--and saw that the low armchair besidethe escritoire was tenanted by a pair of long legs with singularlyfine silk socks showing upon singularly fine ankles--and a pair ofstrong slender hands held a newspaper in front of the rest of thebody, concealing it all and the face. It was the English TIMES, which, as everybody knows, could hide Gargantua himself. 

She began her letter--and not a rustle disturbed her peace. 

"Dearest Eustace, " she had written, "we have arrived in Rome--"and then she stopped, and fixed her eyes blankly upon the columnof births, marriages, and deaths. She was staring at it withsightless eyes, when the paper was slowly lowered and over its topthe blue orbs of the stranger looked into hers. 

Her pretty color became the hue of a bright pink rose. "Mademoiselle, " a very deep voice said in English, "is not thisworld full of bores and tiresome duties; have you the courage todefy them all for a few minutes--and talk to me instead?"

"Monsieur!" Miss Rawson burst out, and half rose from her seat. Then she sat down again--the unknown had not stirred a muscle. 

"Good, " he murmured. "One has to be courageous to do what isunconventional, even if it is not wrong. I am not desirous ofhurting or insulting you--I felt we might have something to say toeach other--is it so--tell me, am I right?"

"I do not know, " whispered Stella lamely. She was so taken abackat the preposterous fact that a stranger should have addressed herat all, even in a manner of indifference and respect, that sheknew not what to do. 

"I observed you last night, " he went on. "I am accustomed to judgeof character rapidly--it is a habit I have acquired during mytravels in foreign lands--when I cannot use the standard of myown. You are weary of a number of things, and you do not knowanything at all about life, and you are hedged round with thosewho will see that you never learn its meaning. Tell me--what doyou think of Rome--it contains things and aspects which affordfood for reflection, is it not so?"

"We have only been to the Vatican as yet, " Stella answeredtimidly--she was still much perturbed at the whole incident, butnow that she had begun she determined she might as well be hungfor a sheep as a lamb, and she was conscious that there was astrong attraction in the mild blue eyes of the stranger. Hismanner had a complete repose and absence of self-consciousness, which usually is only to be found in the people of race--in anynation. 

"You were taken to the Sistine Chapel, of course, " he went on, "and to the loggia and Bramant's staircase? You saw some statues, too, perhaps?"

"My uncle and aunt do not care much for sculpture, " Miss Rawsonsaid, now regaining her composure, "but I like it--even betterthan pictures. "

The stranger kept his steady eyes fixed upon her face all thetime. 

"I have a nymph in my house at home, " he returned. "She cameoriginally from Rome; she is not Greek and she is very like you, the same droop of head--I remarked it immediately--I amsuperstitious--I suppose you would call what I mean by that word--and I knew directly that some day you, too, would mean things tome. That is why I spoke--do you feel it, too?"

Stella Rawson quivered. The incredible situation paralyzed her. She--the Aunt Caroline's niece, and engaged to Eustace Medlicott, the Bishop's junior chaplain, to be listening to a grotesque-looking foreigner making subtle speeches of an insinuatingcharacter, and, far from feeling scandalized and repulsed, to beconscious that she was thrilled and interested--it was hardly tobe believed!

"Will you tell me from where you come?" she asked with sweetbashfulness, raising two eyes as soft as brown velvet. "You speakEnglish so very well--one cannot guess. "

"I am a Russian, " he said simply. "I come from near Moscow--and myname is Sasha Roumovski, Count Roumovski. Yours, I am aware, isRawson, but I would like to know how you are called--Mary, perhaps? That is English. "

"No, my name is not Mary, " she answered, and froze a little--butthe Russian's eyes continued to gaze at her with the same mildfrankness which disarmed any resentment. She felt they were ascalm as deep pools of blue water--they filled her with a sense ofconfidence and security--which she could not account for in anyway. 

Her color deepened--something in his peaceful expectancy seemed tocompel her to answer his late question. 

"My Christian name is Stella, " she said, rather quickly, thenadded nervously: "I am engaged to Mr. Eustace Medlicott, anEnglish clergyman--we are going to be married in September next. "

"And this is May, " was all Count Roumovski replied; then, for thefirst time since he had addressed her, he turned his eyes from herface, while the faintest smile played round his well-cut mouth. 

"A number of things can happen in four months. Are you lookingforward to your life as the wife of a priest--but I understand itis different in England to in my country--there I could notrecommend the situation to you. "

Stella found absolutely no answer to this. She only felt a sudden, wild longing to cry out that the idea of being a curate's wife--even the Bishop's junior young gentleman with eight hundred a yearof his own--had never appeared a thrilling picture, and was nowcausing her a feeling of loathing. She thought she ought to talkno longer to this stranger, and half rose from her seat. 

He put out a protesting hand, both had been clasped idly over theTimes until then without a movement. 

"No--do--not go--I have disturbed you--I am sorry, " he pleaded. "Listen, there is a great reception at your Embassy to-morrownight--for one of our Royal Family who is here. You will go, perhaps. If so, I will do so also, although I dislike parties--andthere I will be presented to you with ceremony--it will appeasethat English convention in you, and after that I shall say to youa number of things--but I prefer to sit here and speak behind theTimes. "

At this instant he raised the paper, and appeared again thestranger almost entirely hidden from view. And Stella saw that herUncle Erasmus was rapidly approaching her with an envelope in hishand. She seized her pen again and continued her broken sentenceto Eustace--her betrothed. Canon Ebley viewed the Times and itsholder with suspicion for an instant, but its stillness reassuredhim, and he addressed his niece. 

"Very civil of the Embassy to send us a card for the reception to-morrow night, Stella; I am glad we wrote names when we arrived. Your Aunt Caroline bids you accept, as her spectacles areupstairs. "

Miss Rawson did as she was bid, and her uncle waited, fidgetingwith his feet. He wished the stranger to put down the Times, whichhe wanted himself--or, at all events, remove his long legs andhidden body from such a near proximity to his niece; they couldnot say a word that he could not overhear, Canon Ebley mused. 

However, the unknown remained where he was, and turned a page ofthe paper with great deliberation. 

"Your aunt will be ready to go out again now, " the Uncle Erasmusannounced, as Stella placed her acceptance in the envelope. "Youhad better go up and put your hat on, my dear. "

The Times rustled slightly--and Stella replied a little hurriedly:"I was just finishing a letter, uncle, then I will come. "

"Very well, " said Canon Ebley, not altogether pleased, as hewalked away with the note. 

The newspaper was lowered a few inches again, and the wise blueeyes beneath the saintly parted hair twinkled with irresistiblelaughter, and the deep voice said:

"He would greatly disapprove of our having conversed--the uncle--is it not so? How long are you going to stay in Rome?"

Stella smiled, too--she could not help it. 

"A week--ten days, perhaps, " she answered, and then rapidlyaddressed an envelope to the Rev. Eustace Medlicott. 

"Perhaps, in that case, I can afford to wait until to-morrownight; unless it amuses you, as it does me, to circumvent people, "Count Roumovski said. "We are all masters of our own lives, youknow, once we have ceased to be children--it is only conventionwhich persuades us to submit to others' authority. "

Stella looked up startled. Was this indeed true? And was it simplyconvention which had forced her into an engagement with EustaceMedlicott, and now forced her to go up and put on her hat andaccompany her uncle and aunt to see the Lateran, when she wouldhave preferred to remain where she was and discuss abstractmatters with this remarkable stranger. 

"The notion surprises you, one sees, " Count Roumovski went on, "but it is true--"

"I suppose it is, " said Stella lamely. 

"I submit to no authority--I mean, as to the controlling of myactions and wishes. We must all submit to the laws of our country, to do so is the only way to obtain complete personal freedom. "

"That sounds like a paradox, " said Stella. 

"I have just been thinking, " he went on, without noticing theinterruption, "it would be most agreeable to take a drive in myautomobile late this after-noon, when your guardians have returnedand are resting. If you feel you would care to come I will wait inthis hall from five to six. You need not take the least notice ofme, you can walk past, out of the hotel, then turn to the left, and there in the square, where there are a few trees, you will seea large blue motor waiting. You will get straight in, and I willcome and join you. Not anyone will see or notice you--because ofthe trees, one cannot observe from the windows. My chauffeur willbe prepared, and I will return you safely to the same place in anhour. "

Stella's brown eyes grew larger and larger. Some magnetic spellseemed to be dominating her, the idea was preposterous, and yet toagree to it was the strongest temptation she had ever had in allher life. She was filled with a wild longing to live, to do whatshe pleased, to be free to enjoy this excitement before her wingsshould be clipped, and her outlook all gray and humdrum. 

"I do not know if they will rest--I cannot say--I--" she blurtedout tremblingly. 

The stranger had put down the Times, and was gazing into her facewith a look almost of tenderness. 

"There is no need to answer now, " he said softly. "If fate meansus to be happy, she will arrange it--I think you will come. "

Miss Rawson started to her feet, and absently put her letter toher fiance--which contained merely the sentence that they hadarrived in Rome--into its envelope and fastened it up. 

"I must go now--good-bye, " she said. 

"It is not good-bye, " the Russian answered gravely. "By sixo'clock, we shall be driving in the Borghese Gardens and hearingthe nightingales sing. "

As Stella walked to the lift with a tumultuously beating heart, she asked herself what all this could possibly mean, and why shewas not angry--and why this stranger--whose appearance outragedall her ideas as to what an English gentleman should look like--had yet the power to fascinate her completely. Of course, shewould not go for a drive with him--and yet, what would be theharm? After September she would never have a chance like thisagain. There would be only Eustace Medlicott and parish duties--yes--if fate made it possible, she would go!

And she went on to her room with exhilarating sense of adventurecoursing through her veins. 

"I have found out the name of the peculiar-looking foreigner whosat near us last night, " Canon Ebley said, as they drove to theLateran in a little Roman Victoria, "it is Count Roumovski; Iasked the hall porter--reprehensible curiosity I fear you willthink, my dear Caroline, but there is something unaccountablyinteresting about him, as you must admit, although you disapproveof his appearance. "

"I think it is quite dreadful, " Mrs. Ebley sniffed, "and I hearfrom Martha that he has no less than two valets, and a suite ofprincely rooms and motor cars, and the whole passage on the secondfloor is filled with his trunks. "

Martha had been Mrs. Ebley's maid for twenty-five years, and asStella well knew was fairly accurate in her recounting of theinformation she picked up. This luridly extravagant picture, however, did not appal her. And she found herself constantlydwelling upon it and the stranger all the time she followed herrelations about in the gorgeous church. 

Fate did not seem to be going to smile upon the drive project, however--for Mrs. Ebley, far from appearing tired, actuallyproposed tea in the hall when they got in--and there sat for atleast half an hour, while Stella saw Count Roumovski come in andsit down and leisurely begin a cigarette, as he glanced at anItalian paper. He was so intensely still, always peace seemed tobreathe from his atmosphere, but the very sight of him appeared toexasperate the Aunt Caroline more and more. 

"I wonder that man is not ashamed to be seen in a respectableplace, " she snapped, "with his long hair and his bracelet--sucheffeminacy is perfectly disgusting, Erasmus. "

"I really cannot help it, my dear, " Canon Ebley replied, irritably, "and I rather like his face. "

"Erasmus!" was all Mrs. Ebley could say, and prepared to return toher room. Dinner would be at a quarter to eight, she told Stellaat her door, and recommended an hour's quiet reading up of theguide-book while resting to her niece. 

It was quarter after six before Miss Rawson descended the stairsto the hall again. She had deliberately made up her mind--shewould go and drive with the count. She would live and amuseherself, if it was only for this once in her life, come what mightof it! And since he would be presented with all respectableceremony at the English Embassy the following night, it could notmatter a bit--and if it did--! Well, she did not care!

He was sitting there as immovable as before, and she thrilled asshe crossed the hall. She was so excited and frightened that shecould almost have turned back when she reached the street, butthere, standing by the trees, was a large blue motor car, and asshe advanced the chauffeur stepped forward and opened the door, and she got in--and before she had time to realize what she haddone, Count Roumovski had joined her and sat down by her side. 

"You have no wrap, " he said. "I thought you would not have, so Ihad prepared this, " and he indicated a man's gray Russian, unremarkable-looking cloak, which, however, proved to be linedwith fine sable, "and here, also, is a veil. If you will please meby putting them on, we can then have the auto open and no one willrecognize you--even should we meet your uncle and aunt; that isfun, is it not?"

Stella had thrown every consideration to the winds, except thedetermination to enjoy herself. Years of rebellion at the boredomof her existence seemed to be urging her on. So she meekly slippedinto the cloak, and wrapped the veil right over her hat, and theystarted. Her heart was thumping so with excitement she could nothave spoken for a moment. 

But as they went rapidly on through the crowded streets, hercompanion's respectful silence reassured her. There seemed to besome rapport between them, she was conscious of a feeling that heunderstood her thoughts, and was not misjudging her. 

"You are like a little frightened bird, " he said presently. "Andthere is nothing to cause you the least fear. We shall soon cometo the lovely gardens, and watch the lowering sun make itsbeautiful effects in the trees, and we shall hear the nightingalesthrobbing out love songs--the world is full of rest and peace--when we have had enough passion and strife and want its change--but you do not know anything of it, and this simple drive iscausing you tumults and emotions--is it not so?"

"Yes, " said Stella, with a feeling that she had burnt all herships. 

"It is because you have never been allowed to be YOU, I suppose, "he went on softly. "So doing a natural and simple thing seemsfrightful--because it would seem so to the rigid aunt. Now, I havebeen ME ever since I was born--I have done just what seemed bestto me. Do you suppose I am not aware that the way my hair is cutis a shock to most civilized persons; and that you English wouldstrongly disapprove of my watch and my many other things. But Ilike them myself--it is no trouble for one of my valets to draw astraight line with a pair of scissors--and if I must look at thetime, I prefer to look at something beautiful. I am entirelyuninfluenced by the thoughts or opinions of any people--they donot exist for me except in so far as they interest me and areinstructive or amusing. I never permit myself to be bored for aninstant. "

"How good that must be, " Stella ventured to say--her courage wasreturning. 

"Civilized human beings turn existence into a prison, " he went on, meditatively, "and loaded themselves with shackles, because someconvention prevents their doing what would give them innocentpleasure. If I had been under the dominion of these things weshould not now be enjoying this delightful drive--at least, it isdelightful to me--to be thus near you and alone out of doors. "

Stella did not speak, she was altogether too full of emotion totrust herself to words just yet. They had turned into the Corso bynow, and, as ever, it appeared as though it were a holiday, sothronged with pedestrians was the whole thoroughfare. CountRoumovski seemed quite unconcerned, but Miss Rawson shrank backinto her corner, a new fear in her heart. 

"Do not be so nervous, " her companion said gently. "I alwayscalculate the chances before I suggest another person's riskinganything for me. They are a million to one that anyone couldrecognize you in that veil and that cloak; believe me, although Iam not of your country, I am at least a gentleman, and would nothave persuaded you to come if there had been any danger ofcomplications for you. "

Stella clasped her hands convulsively--and he drew a little nearerher. 

"Do put all agitating ideas out of your mind, " he said, his blueeyes, with their benign expression, seeking hers and compellingthem at last to look at him. "Do you understand that it is foolishto spoil what we have by useless tremors. You are here with me--for the next hour--shall we not try to be happy?"

"Yes, " murmured Miss Rawson, and allowed herself to be magnetizedinto calmness. 

"When we have passed the Piazza del Popolo and the entrance to thePincio, I will have the car opened; then we can see all thecharming young green, and I will tell you of what these gardenswere long ago, and you shall see them with new eyes. "

Stella, by some sort of magic, seemed to have recovered her self-possession as his eyes looked into hers, and she chatted to himnaturally, and the next half hour passed like some fairy tale. Hisdeep, quiet voice took her into realms of fancy that herimagination had never even dreamed about. His cultivation wasimmense, and the Rome of the Caesars appeared to be as familiar tohim as that of 1911. 

The great beauty of the Borghese Gardens was at its height at theend of the day, the nightingales throbbed from the bushes, and theair was full of the fresh, exquisite scents of the late spring, asthe day grew toward evening and all nature seemed full of beautyand peace. It can easily be imagined what this drive meant, then, to a fine, sensitive young woman, whose every instinct of youthand freedom and life had been crushed into undeveloped nothingnessby years of gray convention in an old-fashioned English cathedraltown. 

Stella Rawson forgot that she and this Russian were strangers, andshe talked to him unrestrainedly, showing glimpses of her innerself that she had not known she possessed. It was certainlyheaven, she thought, this drive, and worth all the Aunt Caroline'sfrowns. 

Count Roumovski never said a word of love to her: he treated herwith perfect courtesy and infinite respect, but when at last theywere turning back again, he permitted himself once more to gazedeeply into her eyes, and Stella knew for the first time in herexistence that some silences are more dangerous than words. 

"You do not care at all now for the good clergy-man you areaffianced to, " he said. "No--do not be angry-I am not asking aquestion, I am stating a fact--when lives have been hedged andcontrolled and retenu like yours has been, even the feelings losecharacter, and you cannot be sure of them--but the day isapproaching when you will see clearly and--feel much. "

"I am sure it is getting very late, " said Stella Rawson, and withdifficulty she turned her eyes away and looked over the greenworld. 

Count Roumovski laughed softly, as if to himself. And they weresilent until they came to the entrance gates again, when thechauffeur stopped and shut the car. 

"We have at least snatched some moments of pleasure, have we not?"the owner whispered, "and we have hurt no one. Will you trust meagain when I propose something which sounds to you wild?"

"Perhaps I will, " Stella murmured rather low. 

"When I was hunting lions in Africa I learned to keep myintelligence awake, " he said calmly, "it is an advantage to me nowin civilization--nothing is impossible if one only keeps cool. Ifone becomes agitated one instantly connects oneself with all othercurrents of agitation, and one can no longer act with prudence orsense. "

"I think I have always been very foolish, " admitted Stella, looking down. "I seem to see everything differently now. "

"What we are all striving after is happiness, " Count Roumovskisaid. "Only we will not admit it, and nearly always spoil our ownchances by drifting, and allowing outside things to influence us. If you could see the vast plains of snow in my country and thedeep forests--with never a human being for miles and miles, youwould understand how nature grows to talk to one--and how smallthe littlenesses of the world appear. " Then they were silentagain, and it was not until they were rushing up the Via Nazionaleand in a moment or two would have reached their destination, thatCount Roumovski said:

"Stella--that means star--it is a beautiful name--I can believeyou could be a star to shine upon any man's dark night--becauseyou have a pure spirit, although it has been muffled bycircumstances for all these years. "

Then the automobile drew up by the trees, at perhaps two hundredyards from the hotel, near the baths of Diocletian. 

"If you will get out here, it will be best, " Count Roumovski toldher respectfully, "and walk along on the inner side. I will thendrive to the door of the hotel, as usual. "

"Thank you, and good-bye, " said Stella, and began untying theveil--he helped her at once, and in doing so his hand touched hersoft pink cheek. She thrilled with a new kind of mad enjoyment, the like of which she had never felt, and then controlled herselfand stamped it out. 

"It has been a very great pleasure to me, " he said, and nothingmore; no "good-bye" or "au revoir" or anything, and he drew intothe far corner as she got out of the car, letting the chauffeurhelp her. Nor did he look her way as he drove on. And Stellawalked leisurely back to the hotel, wondering in her heart at themeaning of things. 

No one noticed her entrance, and she was able to begin to dressfor dinner without even Martha being aware that she had beenabsent. But as she descended in the lift with her uncle and auntit seemed as if the whole world and life itself were changed sincethe same time the night before. 

And when they were entering the restaurant a telegram was put intoCanon Ebley's hand--it was from the Rev. Eustace Medlicott, sentfrom Turin, saying he would join them in Rome the followingevening. 

"Eustace has been preparing this delightful surprise--I knew ofit, " the Aunt Caroline said, with conscious pride, "but I wouldnot tell you, Stella, dear, in case something might prevent it. Ifeared to disappoint you. "

"Thank you, aunt, " Miss Rawson said without too much enthusiasm, and took her seat where she could see the solitary occupant of asmall table, surrounded by the obsequious waiters, already sippinghis champagne. 

He had not looked up as they passed. Nor did he appear once toglance in their direction. His whole manner was full of the samereflective calm as the night before. And, for some unaccountablereason, Stella Rawson's heart sank down lower and lower, until atthe end of the repast she looked pale and tired out. 

Eustace, her betrothed, would be there on the morrow, and suchthings as drives in motor cars with strange Russian counts wereonly dreams and not realities, she now felt. 

CHAPTER III

Next morning it fell about that Stella Rawson was allowed to gointo the Musso Nazionale in the Diocletian baths, accompanied onlyby Martha, her uncle and aunt having decided they would take arest and write their English letters. The museum was so near, amere hundred yards, there could be no impropriety in their niece'sgoing there with Martha, even in an exhibition year in Rome. 

Stella was still suffering from a nameless sense of depression. Eustace's train would get in at about five o'clock, and he wouldaccompany them to the Embassy. A cousin of her own and AuntCaroline's was one of the secretaries, and had already beenwritten to about the invitation. So that even if Count Roumovskishould be presented to her, and make the whole thing proper andcorrect, she would have no chance of any conversation. Thebrilliant sunlight felt incongruous and hurt her, and she was gladto enter the shady ancient baths. She had glanced furtively toright and left in the hotel as she came through the hall, but sawno one who resembled the Russian, and they had walked so quicklythrough the vestibule she had not remarked a tall figure comingfrom the staircase, nor had seen him give some rapid order to arespectful servant who was waiting about, and who instantlyfollowed them: but if she had looked up as she paid for the twotickets at the barrier of the museum, she would have seen thissame lean man turn swiftly round and retreat in the direction ofthe hotel. 

Martha was sulky and comatose on this very warm morning; she tookno interest in sculpture. "Them naked creatures, " she called anymasterpiece undraped--and she resented being dragged out by MissStella, who always had fancies for art. 

They walked round the cloisters first, a voyage of discovery toMiss Rawson, who looked a slim enough nymph herself in her lilaccambric frock and demure gray hat shading her big brown eyes. 

Then suddenly, from across the garden in the center, she becameaware that an archaic Apollo clad in modern dress had entered uponthe scene, and the blood rushed to her cheeks, and her heart beat. 

Martha puffed with the heat and exercise, and glanced with longingeyes at a comfortable stone bench in the shade. 

"Would you like to rest here, Martha, you old dear?" Miss Rawsonsaid. "There is not a creature about, and I will walk round andjoin you from the other side. "

The Aunt Caroline's elderly maid easily agreed to this. It wastrue there did not seem to be anyone adventurous-looking, and MissStella would be more or less under her eye--and she was thoroughlytired with traveling and what not. So Stella found herself happilyunchaperoned, except by Baedecker, as she strolled on. 

The Russian had disappeared from view, the bushes and vases in thecenter of the garden plot gave only occasional chances to seepeople at a distance. 

But when Stella had entered the Ludovici collection she perceivedhim to the right, gazing at the statue of the beautiful Mars. 

He turned instantly, as though some one told him she was near--andhis calm eyes took in the fact that she was alone. The small roomwas empty but for the two, and he addressed her as he removed hishat. 

"Good morning, mademoiselle, " he said gravely. "Mars is a strongattraction. I knew I should presently find you here--so when Icaught sight of your spiritual outline across the garden, I cameand--waited. "

"He is most splendid-looking, is he not, " Stella returned, tryingto suppress the sudden tingle of pleasure that was thrilling her, "and look how much character there is in his hands. "

"Shall we go and study the others, or shall we find a bench in thegarden and sit down and talk?" Count Roumovski asked serenely, andthen smiled to himself as he noticed his companion's apprehensiveglance in the direction where, far away, Martha dozed in peace. 

"It would be nice out of doors--but--" and Stella faltered. 

"Do not let us be deprived of pleasure by any buts--there is oneout there who will warn us when your maid wakes. See--" and headvanced toward the entrance door, "there is a bench by that rosetree where we can be comparatively alone. "

Stella struggled no more with herself. After all, it was her lastchance--Eustace Medlicott's train got in at five o'clock!

She had a sense of security, too, the complete serenity of hercompanion inspired confidence. She almost felt she would not careif Aunt Caroline herself slept instead of the elderly maid. 

There was some slight change in Count Roumovski's manner to-day--he kept his eyes fixed upon her face, and the things he said wereless abstract and more personal. After an entrancing half hour shefelt she had seen vivid pictures of his land and his home. But hewas a great traveler it appeared, and had not been there often inlater years. 

"It is so agreeable to let the body move from place to place, andremain in a peaceful aloofness of the spirit all the time, " hesaid at last. "To watch all the rushing currents which dominatehuman beings when they do not know how to manipulate them. If theydid, the millennium would come, --but, meanwhile, it is reservedfor the few who have learned them to enjoy this present plane weare on. "

"You mean you can control events and shape your life as youplease, then?" Stella asked surprised, while she raised her sweetshy eyes to his inquiringly. "I wish I knew how!"

"Shall I try to teach you, mademoiselle?" he said. 

"Yes, indeed. "

"Then you must not look down all the time, even though thecontemplation of your long eyelashes gives me a pleasure--I wouldprefer the eyes themselves--the eyes are the indication of what ispassing in the soul, and I would study this moving panorama. "

Stella's color deepened, but she met his blue orbs withoutflinching--so he went on:

"I had the fortune to be born a Russian, which has given me timeto study these things. My country does not require my work beyondmy being a faithful servant of my Emperor. Since I am not asoldier, I can do as I choose. But you in England are now in aseething caldron, and it would be difficult, no doubt, for you tospend the hours required--although the national temperament wouldlend itself to all things calm if it were directed. "

"But for myself, " Stella demanded, "I am not a man, and need notinterest myself in the nation's affairs--how can I grow to guidemy own--as you seem to do?"

"Never permit yourself to be ruffled by anything to commencewith, " Count Roumovski began gravely, while the pupils of his eyesappeared to grow larger. "Whatever mood you are in, you connectyourself with the cosmic current of that mood--you become intouch, so to speak, with all the other people who are under itsdominion, and so it gains strength because unity is strength. Ifyou can understand that as a basic principle, you can see that itis only a question of controlling yourself and directing yourmoods with those currents whose augmentation can bring you good. You must never be negative and drift. You can be drawn in anyadverse way if you do. "

"I think I understand, " said Stella, greatly interested. 

"Then you must use your critical faculties and make selections ofwhat is best--and you must encourage common sense and distrustaltruism. Sanity is the thing to aim at. "

"Yes. "

"The view of the world has become so distorted upon almost everypoint which started in good, that nothing but a cultivation of ourindividual critical faculties can enable us to see the truth--andnine-tenths of civilized humanity have no real opinion of theirown at all--they simply echo those of others. "

"I feel that is true, " said Stella, thinking of her own case. 

"It is not because a thing is bad or good that it succeeds--merelyhow much strength we put into the desire for it, " he went on. 

"But surely we must believe that good will win over evil, " and thebrown eyes looked almost troubled, and his softened as he lookedat her. 

"The very fact of believing that would make it come to pass by allthese psychic laws. Whatever we really believe we draw, " he saidalmost tenderly. 

"Then, if I were to believe all the difficulties and uncertaintieswould be made straight and just go on calmly, I should be happy, should I?" she asked, and there was an unconscious pathos in hervoice which touched him deeply. 

"Certainly, " he answered. "You have not had a fair chance--probably you have never been allowed to do a single thing of yourown accord--have you?"

"N--no, " said Stella. 

"In the beginning, were you engaged to this good clergyman of yourown wish?" and his eyes searched her face. 

She stiffened immediately, the training of years took offense, andshe answered rather stiffly:

"I do not think you have the right to ask me such a question, Count Roumovski. "

He was entirely unabashed--he stroked his pointed silky beard fora moment, then he said calmly:

"Yes--I have, you agreed that I should teach you how to shape yourlife as you pleased, you must remember. It is rather essentialthat I should know the truth of this matter before I can gofurther--you must see that. "

"We can avoid the subject. "

"It would be Hamlet without Hamlet, then, " he smiled. "One coulddraw up no scheme of rules and exercises, unless one has some ideaof how far the individual was responsible for the present state ofthings. If it was your wish in the beginning, or if you werecoerced makes all the difference. "

Stella was silent--only she nervously plucked an offending rosewhich grew upon a bush beside them: she pulled its petals off andkept her eyes lowered, and Sasha Roumovski smiled a wise smile. 

"You have unconsciously answered me, " he said, "and your agitationproves that not only are you aware that you did not become engagedof your own wish, but that you are afraid to face the fact andadmit that its aspect appals you. You must remember, in yourcountry, where, I understand, divorce is not tres bien vu, especially among the clergy, the affair is for life, and the joyor the gall of it could be infinite. "

She raised two beseeching eyes to his face at last. 

"Oh, do not let us talk about it, " she pleaded. "It is so warm andpleasant here--I want to be happy. "

He looked at her for a while with penetrating eyes, then he saidgently:

"It is a man's province to take care of a woman, " and hisattractive voice filled with a new cadence. "I see you are in needof direction. Leave all to me--and forget there is any one else inthe world for the moment but our two selves. Did you know that Ithought you looked particularly sweet last night, but ratherpale?"

"You never looked at me at all, " said Stella before she was awareof it, and then blushed crimson at the inference of her speech. Hewould be able to understand perfectly that she must have beenobserving him all the time to be conscious of this. 

A gleam of gladness came into his eyes. 

"I would like to watch you always openly, if I might, " hewhispered. "Your little face is like a flower in its delicatetints, and your eyes are true and tender and asking so manyquestions of life, --and sometimes they are veiled and misty, andthen they look wise and courageous. I am beginning to know alltheir changes. "

"Then, in that case, monotony will set in, " Stella was almostarch--the day was so glorious!

"I am not afraid of that, " he said. "I always know what I want andwhat is worth while. I do not value my three matchless pearls theless because I know their every iridescence--on the contrary, Igrow more fond of them and wear them every night in preference toany others. "

They were silent for a moment after this. He was examining herminutely with his wise, calm eyes. He was noting the sensitivecurve of the pretty full lips, the tender droop of the set of herhead, the gracious charm of her little regular features, and theintelligence of her broad brow. With all her simplicity, shelooked no fool or weakling. And to think that the narrow code ofthose who surrounded her should force this sweet young creatureinto the gray walls of a prison house, when she became the Englishclergyman's wife; it was too revolting to him. Count Roumovskisuddenly made up his mind, trained to instantaneous decision byhis bent of studies, and sure and decided in its action. And ifStella had looked up then she would have seen a keen gleam in thepeaceful blue of his eyes. He drew her on to talk of her home andher tastes--she loved many things he did, he found--and she was soeager to hear and to learn their meaning. He grew to feel a sortof pride and the pleasure of a teacher when directing an extremelyintelligent child. There were no barriers of stupidity intowhatever regions the subjects might wander. They spent an hour ofpure joy investigating each other's thoughts. And both knew theywere growing more than friends. 

Then Stella rose suddenly to her feet. A clock struck twelve. 

"You said one must not be negative and drift, " she announceddemurely, "so I am being decided and must now go to Martha again. "

"Ivan has not warned us that she is thinking of stirring, " CountRoumovski said. "I told him to, and he will let us know in plentyof time; you surely do not breakfast until half-past twelve, doyou?"

"Ivan?--who is Ivan?" Stella asked. 

"He is a servant of mine who does what he is bid, " her companionanswered. "To have peace to enjoy oneself one must calculate andarrange for events. Had we only trusted to the probability of yourmaid's sleeping, I should have had to be on the lookout, and myuneasiness would have communicated itself to you, and we shouldhave had no happy hour--but I made a certainty of safety--andunconsciously you trusted me to know, and so we have beencontent. "

Stella was thrilled. So he had taken all this trouble. He must bea good deal interested in her, then; and feeling sure of this, womanlike, she immediately took advantage of it to insist uponleaving him. 

"Very well, " he said, when he could not dissuade her. "To-nightthe wheel of fortune will revolve for us all, and it remains to beseen who will draw a prize and who a blank. "

Then he walked by her side to where they saw the quiet servantstanding, a motionless sentinel, and here Count Roumovski bowedand turned on his heel, while Stella advanced to the bench onwhich the comfortable Martha slept. 

This latter was full of defence when she awoke. She had not closedan eye, but thought Miss Stella was enjoying "them statues" betterwithout her, which was indeed true, if she had guessed!

Miss Rawson ate very little luncheon--the Russian did not appear--and immediately after it she was taken as a treat to see theBorghese Gardens by her uncle and aunt! It behooved her not to betired by more sightseeing, since her betrothed would arrive whenthey returned for tea, and would expect her to be bright and onthe alert to please him, Aunt Caroline felt. As for Stella, asthat moment approached it seemed to her that the end of all joyhad come. 

CHAPTER IV

The Rev. Eustace Medlicott, when the stains of travel had beenremoved from his thin person, came down to tea in the hall of theGrand Hotel with a distinct misgiving in his heart. He did notapprove of it as a place of residence for his betrothed. Anotherand equally well-drained hostelry might have been found for theparty he thought, where such evidences of worldly occupations andamusements would not so forcibly strike the eye. Music with one'smeals savored of paganism. He was still very emaciated with hisLenten fast. It took him until July, generally, to pick up again;and he was tired with his journey. Stella was not there to greethim, only the Aunt Caroline, and he felt a sense of injurycreeping over him. She might have been in time. Nancy Ruggles, theBishop's second daughter, had given him tea and ministered to hiswants in a spirit of solicitous devotion every day since theEbleys had left Exminster, but Nancy's hair was not full ofsunlight, nor did her complexion suggest cream and roses. Thingswhich, to be sure, the Rev. Eustace Medlicott felt he ought not todwell upon; they were fleshly lusts and should be discouraged. 

He had been convinced that celibacy was the only road to salvationfor a priest, until Stella Rawson's fair young charms hadunconsciously undermined this conviction. But even if he had beenable to arrange his conscience to his liking upon the vital point, he felt he must fight bravely against allowing himself or hisbetrothed to get any pleasure out of the affair. It was better tomarry than to burn, he had St. Paul's authority for this--but whenhe felt emotion toward Stella because of her loveliness, he wasafterward very uncomfortable in his thoughts, and it took him atleast an hour to throw dust in his own eyes in regard to thenature of his desire for her, which he determined to think wasonly of the spirit. Love, for him, was no god to be exalted, but atoo strong beast to be resisted, and every one of his rites wereto be succumbed to shamefacedly and under protest. Thus did hecriticize the scheme of his Creator like many another before him. 

He sat now in the hall of the Grand Hotel at Rome feeling ill atease and expressed some mild disapproval of the surroundings toMrs. Ebley, who fired up at once. She was secretly enjoyingherself extremely, and allowed the drains to assume giganticproportions in her reasons for their choice of abode. So there wasnothing more to be said, and Stella, looking rather pale, presently came down the steps from the corridor where their liftwas situated, and joined the group in the far corner of the largehall. 

She was so slender and fresh and graceful, and, even in the week'ssight-seeing in Paris, she seemed to have picked up a new air, though she wore the same gray Sunday dress her fiance wasaccustomed to see at home--it appeared to be put on differently, and she had altered the doing of her hair. There was no doubtabout it, his future wife was a most delectable-looking creature, but these tendencies toward adornment of the person which heobserved must be checked at once. 

They shook hands with decorous cordiality, and Stella sat downdemurely in the vacant chair. She felt as cold as ice toward him, and looked it more or less. It made Mr. Medlicott nervous, although she answered gently enough when he addressed her. Inwardly she was trying to overcome the growing revulsion she wasexperiencing. Tricks of speech, movements of hands--even the wayEustace's hair grew--were all irritating her. She only longed tocontradict every word the poor man said, and she felt wretched andunjust and at war with herself and fate. At last things almostcame to a point when he moved his chair so that he should be closeto her and a little apart from the others, and whispered with anair of absolute proprietorship:

"My little Stella has changed her sweetly modest way ofhairdressing. I hardly think the new style is suitable to myretiring dove. "

"Why, it is only parted in the middle and brushed back into asimple knot, " Miss Rawson retorted, with sparkling eyes. "How canyou be so ridiculous, Eustace--it is merely because it is becomingand more in the fashion that you object, there is nothing theleast remarkable in the style itself. "

Mr. Medlicott's thin lips grew into a straight line. 

"It is that very point--the suggestion of fashion that I objectto--the wife of a clergyman cannot be too careful not to makeherself attractive or remarkable in any way, " he saidsententiously, his obstinate chin a little forward. 

"But I am not a clergyman's wife yet, " said Stella with somefeeling, "and can surely enjoy a few things of my age until I am--and doing my hair how I please is one of them. "

Mr. Medlicott shrugged his shoulders, he refused to continue thisunseemly altercation with his betrothed. He would force her to seereason when once she should be his wife, until then he might haveto waive his authority, but should show her by his manner that shehad offended him, and judging from the attitudes of the adoringspinsters he had left at Exminster that should be punishmentenough. 

He turned to the Aunt Caroline now and addressed her exclusivelyand Stella rebelliously moved her seat back a few inches andlooked across the room; and at that moment the tall, odd-lookingRussian came in, and retired to a seat far on the other side, exactly opposite them. Here he ordered a hock and seltzer withperfect unconcern, and smoked his cigarette. Miss Rawson couldhardly bear it. 

"There is that extraordinary man again, Stella, " Mrs. Ebley turnedto her and said. "I thought he had gone as he was not at luncheonto-day. I am sure your fiance will agree with me that such anappearance is sacrilegious--he must know he looks like a saint--and I am quite sure, from what I have heard from Martha, he is notone at all. He lives in the greatest luxury, Eustace, " shecontinued, turning to the Rev. Mr. Medlicott. "and probably doesno good to anyone in the world. "

"How can you suppose that, Aunt Caroline, " Stella answered withsome spirit, "it is surely very uncharitable to judge of people bytheir appearances and--and what Martha repeats to you. "

Mrs. Ebley gasped--never in her whole life had her niece spoken toher in this tone. She to be rebuked! It was unspeakable. She couldonly glare behind her glasses. What had come to the girl in thelast two days--if this manner was the result of travel, far betterto have stayed at home!

Here Canon Ebley joined in, hoping to bring peace:

"You have told Eustace what is in store for him to-night, have younot, Caroline, my dear?" he asked. "We have to put on our best andtake our ladies to the Embassy to a rout, Eustace, " he went on, genially. "There are a Russian Grand Duke and Duchess passingthrough, it appears, who are going to be entertained. "

"There will be no dancing, I suppose, " said Mr. Medlicott primly, "because, if so, I am sorry, but I cannot accompany you--it is notthat I disapprove of dancing for others, " he hastened to add, "butI do not care to watch it myself. And I do not think it wise forStella to grow to care for it, either. "

"It is merely a reception, " Mrs. Ebley said, "and it will be avery interesting sight. "

Stella sat silent; she was overcome with the whole situation; andher fiance grew more distasteful to her every moment--how had sheever been persuaded to be engaged to such a person!--while theattraction of the strange-looking Russian seemed to increase. Inspite of the grotesque hair and unusual beard, there was an air ofgreat distinction about him. His complete unconsciousness and calmwere so remarkable. You might take him for an eccentric person, but certainly a gentleman, and with an extraordinary magnetism, she felt. When once you had talked to him, he seemed to cast aspell over you. But, beyond this, she only knew that she wasgrowing more unhappy every moment, and that by her side one manrepresented everything that was tied and bound in sentiment andfeeling and existence, and that across the hall another opened thewindows of her reason and imagination, and exhorted her to befree, and herself. 

Presently she could bear it no more. She got up rather suddenly, and, saying she was very tired and had letters to write, she leftthem and went toward the lift. 

"Stella is not at all like herself, " Mr. Medlicott said, when shehad disappeared from view. "I trust she is not sickening withRoman fever. "

Meanwhile, Miss Rawson had reached her room and pulled her writingcase in front of her. There were one or two girl friends who oughtto be written to, but the sheets remained blank--and in about tenminutes there was a gentle knock at the door, and, on opening it, she saw Count Roumovski's discreet-looking servant, who handed hera note respectfully, and then went on his way without a word. 

How agreeable it must be to have well-trained servants to do one'sbidding like that! she thought, and then went back eagerly to herwindow to read the missive. It had no beginning or date, and wasjust a few lines. 

I have observed the whole situation, and judged of the characterof your fiance. I know how you feel. Do not be depressed--remaincalm and trust me, circumstances can always be directed in thehands of a strong man. I will have the honor to be presented toyou and to your family soon after you arrive at the Embassy to-night. All is well. 

There was no signature, and the writing was rather large andunlike any she had seen before. 

Suddenly her feeling of unrest left her, and a lightness of hearttook its place. She was living, at all events, and the horizon wasnot all gray. It seemed almost delightful to be putting on a realevening dress presently, even though it was a rather homely whitething with a pink sash, and to be going down to the restaurant init with Aunt Caroline in front in her best black velvet and pointlace. 

That lady's desire to be in time at the party alone determined herto this breach of the rules--and there were Eustace and UncleErasmus in their stiff clerical evening coats awaiting them in thecorridor--while, as luck would have it, the lift stopped at thesecond floor to admit the Russian. He got in with his usual air ofbeing unaware that he was not alone--though Stella could feel thathe was touching her hand--perhaps unconsciously. He seemed toradiate some kind of joy for her always, and the pink grew to thatof a June rose in her cheeks, and her brown eyes shone like twostars. 

"That was the man you spoke of in the hall, Mrs. Ebley, was itnot?" Eustace Medlicott's intoning voice said, as they went alongto the restaurant. "He certainly is a most remarkable person tolook at close--but I do not dislike his face, it has noble lines. "

"Really, how condescending of you!" Stella almost said aloud. Butthe Aunt Caroline answered serenely:

"Perhaps I am prejudiced, Eustace, but want of convention alwaysshocks me to such a degree that I cannot appreciate anythingelse. "

Stella almost enjoyed her dinner, she was so excited with theprospect of some unknown coming events, and she had thesatisfaction of observing that once Count Roumovski actuallyturned his head in their direction and met her eyes. His were fullof a whimsical smile for the instant he looked, and then herelapsed into his habitual indifference. 

The crowd had begun to thicken when they got to the Embassy, andthey waited among them for the Royalties' arrival; Stella lookingat everything with fresh, interested eyes. When this ceremony wasover people began to disperse about the large rooms, and MissRawson was conscious that her strange secret acquaintance was inconversation with the Grand Duke and Duchess; she had not seen himcome in. The Aunt Caroline noticed this, too, and drew herattention to the fact. 

"Look, Stella, that dreadful man is talking to Royalty!" she said. "I suppose he must be a gentleman, after all--one never can tellwith foreigners, as their titles mean nothing, and half of themare assumed. Your Uncle Carford had a valet once who afterward wasarrested for posing as a Polish count. "

"I should think anyone could see this man was a gentleman, AuntCaroline, " Stella answered, "even without his talking toRoyalties. "

They were soon joined by the secretary cousin, who was charmed towelcome so pretty a relation to Rome, and was profuse in hisapologies for not having been able to do more than leave cardsupon them as yet. 

"We should so like to know the names of the celebrities, " Mrs. Ebley said, "especially can you tell us about the very curious-looking person now conversing with her Imperial Highness; he is atour hotel. "

"That--Oh! that is by far the most interesting man here--it is thefamous Count Roumovski. He is a most celebrated traveler; he hasbeen all over the world and Africa and Asia in unaccessibleplaces. He is a fabulously rich Russian--a real Muscovite fromnear Moscow, and he does everything and anything he pleases; hegives enormous sums for the encouragement of science. He isimmensely intelligent--he lunched at the Embassy to-day. "

"Really!" said the Aunt Caroline, somewhat impressed. "Hisappearance is greatly against him. "

"Oh, do you think so?" said the cousin. "I think it adds to hisattraction, it is such superlative audacity. No Englishman wouldhave the nerve to cut his hair like that. "

"I should hope not, " said Mrs. Ebley severely, and dropped thesubject. 

"To think of this charming rosebud of a girl going to marryEustace Medlicott--insufferable, conceited prig, I remember him atOxford, " the cousin was musing to himself. "Lord Carford is an oldstick-in-the-mud, or he would have prevented that. She is his ownniece, and one can see by her frock that the poor child never evengoes to London. "

At this moment they saw the Russian Count putting his heelstogether and bowing himself out of the circle of his Royalties;and straight as a dart he came over to where their group wasstanding, and whispered in the cousin's--Mr. Deanwood's ear--whothen asked if he might present Count Roumovski to the AuntCaroline and the rest. 

When this ceremony was over Mrs. Ebley found herself conversingwith her whilom object of contempt, and coming gradually under theinfluence of his wonderful charm, while Stella stood theretrembling with the wildest excitement she had yet known. The wordsof Eustace, her betrothed, talking to her, carried no meaning toher brain, her whole intelligence was strung up to catch what theothers were saying. 

With great dexterity the Russian presently made the conversationgeneral, and drew her into it, and then he said with composurethat the Gardens were illuminated--and, as it was such a very hotnight, would mademoiselle like to take a turn that way, to havesome refreshment? At the same moment, Mr. Deanwood gave Mrs. Ebleyhis arm, and they all moved forward--followed by Canon Ebley andthe Rev. Eustace Medlicott, with no great joy upon his face. 

Stella, meanwhile, felt herself being drawn rapidly ahead, and somaneuvered that in a moment or two they had completely lost sightof the rest of the relations, and were practically alone in acrowd. 

"At last!" Count Roumovski whispered, "even I, who am generallycalm, was beginning to feel I should rush over, throw prudence tothe winds and--" then he stopped abruptly, and Stella felt herheart thump in her throat, while her little hand on his arm waspressed against his side. 

They made the pretense of taking some refreshment at the buffet, and then went toward the open doors of the garden. The part allround the house was illuminated, and numbers of people strolledabout, the night was deliciously warm. Count Roumovski seemed toknow the paths, for he drew his companion to a seat just beyondthe radius of the lights, and they sat down upon a bench under agiant tree. He had not spoken a word, but now he leaned back anddeliberately looked into her eyes, while his voice, withvibrations of feeling in it which thrilled Stella, whispered inher ear:

"It cannot go on, of course--you agree with me about that, do younot?"

"What cannot go on?" she asked, to gain time to recover hercomposure. 

"This situation, " he answered. "I am sure now that I love you--andI want to teach you a number of things, first in importance beingthat you shall love me. "

"Oh, you must not say this, " Stella protested feebly. 

"Yes, I must, and you will listen to me, little star. "

He drew nearer to her, and the amazing power of propinquity beganto assert itself. She felt as if the force to resist him wereleaving her, she was trembling all over with delicious thrills. 

"I made up my mind almost immediately I saw you, sweet child, " hewent on, "that you were what I have been waiting for all my life. You are good and true--and balanced--or you will be that when Ihave made your love education. Stella, look at me with those softeyes, and tell me that I mean something to you already, and thatthe worthy Mr. Medlicott does not exist any more. "

"I--I--but I have only known you for two days, " Stella answeredconfusedly: she was so full of emotion that she dared not trustherself further. 

"Does time count, then, so much with conventional people?" hedemanded. "For me it has no significance in relation to feeling. If you would only look at me instead of down at those small hands, then you would not be able to tell me these foolish things!"

This was so true that Stella could not deny it, her breath camerather fast; it was the supreme moment her life had yet known. 

"You are frightened because the training of your education stillholds you and not nature. Your acquired opinion tells you you areengaged to another man, and ought not to listen to me. "

"Of course I ought not to, " she murmured. 

"Of course you ought--how else can you come to any conclusion ifyou do not hear my arguments--sweet, foolish one!"

She did look at him now with two startled eyes. 

"Listen attentively, darling pupil, and sweet love, " he said. Hewas leaning with one arm on the back of the bench supporting hishead on his hand, turned quite toward her, who sat with claspednervous fingers clutching her fan. His other hand lay idly on hisknee, his whole attitude was very still. The soft lights were justenough for him to see distinctly her small face and shining hair;his own face was in shadow, but she could feel the magnetism ofhis eyes penetrating through her very being. 

"You were coerced by those in charge of you, " he went on in alevel voice of argument, which yet broke into notes of tenderness, "you were influenced into becoming engaged to this man who isridiculously unsuited to you. You, so full of life and boundlessjoy! You, who will learn all of love's meaning presently, and whatit makes of existence, and what God meant by giving it to usmortals. You are intended by nature to be a complete woman if youdid but know it--but such a life, tied to that half fish man, wouldatrophy all that is finest in your character. You would grow reallyinto what they are trying to make you appear--after years ofhopelessness and suffering. Do you not feel all this, little star, tell me?"

"Yes, " Stella answered, "it is true--I have seemed to feel thecords and the shackles pulling at me often, but never that theywere unbearable until I--spoke with you--and you put new thoughtsinto my head. "

"I did well, then. And because of a silly convention you wouldruin all your life by going on with these ways--it isunthinkable!" and his deep voice vibrated with feeling. "It is amistake, that is all, and can be rectified, --if you were alreadymarried to this man I would not plead so, because then you wouldhave crossed the Rubicon, and assumed responsibilities which youwould have to accept or suffer the consequences. But thispreliminary bond can be broken without hurt to either side. A manof the good clergyman's type will not suffer in his emotions atthe loss of you--he suffices unto himself for those; his vanitywill be wounded--that is all. And surely it is better that shouldgall for a little than that you should spoil your life. Sweet flower, realize yourself these things--that sunny hair and that beautifulskin and those velvet eyes were made for the joy and glory of aman--not for temptations to a strict priest, who would resenttheir power as a sin every time he felt himself influenced bytheir charm. Gods above! he would not know what to do with you, heart of me!"

Stella was thrilling with exquisite emotion, but the influence ofher strict and narrow bringing up could not be quite overcome inthese few moments. She longed to be convinced, and yet somealtruistic sentiment made her feel still some qualms andmisgivings. If she should be causing Eustace great pain bybreaking her engagement; if it were very wrong to go against heruncle and aunt--especially her Aunt Caroline, her own mother'ssister. She clasped her little hands nervously, and looked up inthis strong man's face with pathetic, pleading intensity. 

"Oh, please tell me, what ought I to do, then--what is right?" sheimplored. "And because I want so much to believe you, I fear itmust be wrong to do so. "

He leaned nearer to her and spoke earnestly. His stillness wasalmost ominous, it gave the impression of such immense self-control, and his voice was as those bass notes of the priests ofSt. Isaac's in his own northern land. 

"Dear, honest little girl, " he said tenderly, "I worship yourgoodness. And I know you will presently see the truth. Love is ofGod and is imperious, and because she loves him is the only reasonwhy a woman should give her life to a man. Quite apart from thelaw, which proclaims that each individual must be the arbiter ofhis own fate, and not succumb to the wishes of others, it would bean ethical sin for you to marry the worthy Mr. Medlicott--notloving him. Surely, you can see this. "

"Yes--yes, it would be dreadful, " she murmured, "but AuntCaroline--she caused me to accept him--I mean, she wanted me to somuch. I never really felt anything for him myself, and lately--ever since the beginning, in fact, I have been getting more andmore indifferent to him. "

"Then, surely, it is plain that you must be free of him, darling. Throw all the responsibility upon me, if you will. I promise totake every care of you. And I want you only to promise you willfollow each step that I explain to you--" then he broke off, andthe seriousness of his tone changed to one of caressingtenderness. "But first I must know for certain, little star, shallI be able to teach you to love me--as I shall love you?"

"Yes, " was all Stella could utter, and then, gaining more voice, she went on, "I did not know--I could not guess what that wouldmean--to love--but--"

He answered her with fond triumph:

"Now you are beginning to understand, darling child--that isenough for me to know for the present. In your country, a man asksa woman to marry him: he says, 'Will you marry me?'--is it not so?of course, I need not say that to you, because you know that iswhat I mean. When these wearisome thongs are off your wrists youwill belong to me, and come with me into my country and be part ofmy life. "

"Ah!" whispered Stella, the picture seemed one of heaven, that wasall. 

"You must have freedom to assert your individuality, Stella, " hecontinued. "I can but show you the way and give you a new point ofview, but I will never try to rule you and drag you to mine. Iwill never put any chains upon you but those of love. Do theysound as if they would be too heavy, dearest?"

"I think not, " she said very low. "I feel as though I were lookinginto a beautiful garden from the top of an ugly, barren, coldmountain. I shall like to come down and go in among the unknownflowers. "

"It will be so glorious for us, " he said exultantly, "because wehave still all the interesting things to find out about eachother, --" And then, her sweet face so very near him, thetemptation to caress her became too intense; he quivered andchanged his position, clasping his hands. 

"Darling, " he said hoarsely, "we must soon go back to the company, because, although I count always upon my will to make my actionsobey it, still I can hardly prevent myself from seizing you in myarms and kissing your tender lips--and that I must not do--asyet. "

Stella drew herself together, the temptation was convulsing heralso, though she did not guess it. She looked up into his blueeyes there in the shadow, and saw the deep reverence in them, andshe understood and loved him with her soul. 

He did not so much as touch her dress; indeed, now that he had wonhis fight, he moved a little further from her--and resumed hiscalm voice:

"The first thing we shall do is to stroll back through the peopleand find the aunt--I will then leave you with her, and soon itwill be time to go home. Do not make much conversation with any ofthem to-night--leave everything to me. I will see the Rev. Mr. Medlicott when we return to the hotel. Whatever they say to youto-morrow, remain firm in your simple determination to break yourengagement. Argue with them not at all. I will see your uncle inthe morning and demand your hand; they will be shocked, horrified, scandalized--we will make no explanations. If they refuse theirconsent, then you must be brave, and the day after to-morrow youmust come to my sister. She will have arrived by then; she was inParis, and I telegraphed for her to join me immediately; thePrincess Urazov she is called. She will receive you withaffection, and you will stay with her until the formalities can bearranged, when we shall be married, and--but I cannot permitmyself to think of the joy of that--for the moment. "

Stella's eyes, with trust and love, were now gazing into his, andhe rose abruptly to his feet. 

"You may, when you are alone, again think that it is heartless togo quite contrary to your relations like this, because they havebrought you up, but remember that marriage is an act which canmean almost life or death to a woman, and that no human beingshave any right to coerce you in this matter. You are of age and soam I, and we are only answerable to God and to the laws of ourcountries, not to individuals. "

"I will try to think of it like that, " said Stella, greatly moved, and then, with almost childish irrelevance, which touched himdeeply, she asked, "What must I call you, please?"

"Oh, you sweetest star!" he exclaimed, "do not tempt me toostrongly--I love you wildly and I want to fold you in my arms--andexplain everything with your little head here on my breast--but Imust not--must not yet. Call me Sasha--say it now that I may hearits sound in your tender voice--and we must fly, fly back to thelights--or I cannot answer for myself. "

She whispered it softly, and a shiver ran through all his tallframe--and he said, with tender masterfulness:

"Say, 'Sasha, I love, '" and this she did, also--and then he almostbrusquely placed her hand upon his arm, and led her among thepeople, and so to her frowning relations, and then he bowed acorrect good-night. 

CHAPTER V

No one could have been more surprised than the Reverend EustaceMedlicott at the behavior of his betrothed. Far from showing anycontrition for her unseemly absence upon the arm of a perfectstranger, and a foreigner to boot, Stella had returned to the foldof her relations' group with a demure and radiant face, and whenEustace had ventured some querulous reproaches, she had cut himshort by saying she had done as she wished and did not intend tolisten to any remarks about it. 

"You will have to learn more humbleness of mind, my dear child, "he retorted sternly. "I cannot allow you to reply to your futurehusband in this independent tone. "

"I shall just answer as I please, " said Stella, and felt almostinclined to laugh, he looked so cross and amazed. Then she turnedand talked to the cousin, Mr. Deanwood, and took no furthernotice of him. 

Mr. Medlicott burned with annoyance. Stella would really have tobe careful or he would not go on with the match--he had nointention of taking to wife a woman who would defy him--there wasNancy Ruggles ready to be his slave--and others besides her. Andhis career could be just as well assisted by the Bishop's daughteras by Canon Ebley's niece, even though her uncle was a crotchetyand unknown Lord, patron of two fat livings. But Stella, with arebellious little curl loosened on her snowy neck and a rebelliouspout upon her cherry lips, was so very alluring a creature to callone's own, the desire of the flesh, which he called by any othername, fought hard with his insulted spirit, though to give inwould be too ignominious; she must say she was sorry first, andthen he could find it in his heart to forgive her. But theopportunity to show this magnanimity was not vouchsafed to him byfate--for other people were introduced to the party by Mr. Deanwood, and he did not exchange a word alone with his erringfiancee until she said a cold good-night in the hall of the GrandHotel. 

"Stella, remain for a moment, I wish to speak to you, " he said inthe voice in which he was accustomed to read the burial service. 

But she feigned not to hear and followed her Aunt Caroline's blackvelvet train on to the lift and at that same moment a discreet-looking foreign servant came up and handed him a note. 

He read it in surprise--who could be sending him a note at aquarter past twelve at night?

Dear Sir [it ran], I shall be greatly obliged if you can spare to me half an hourbefore retiring to your rest to converse upon a matter ofimportance. I had the honor of making your acquaintance to-nightat your Embassy. If you will grant me this favor I will wait uponyou immediately in the hall, or, if you prefer, my sitting-room;my servant could conduct you here, and we shall have the advantageof being entirely undisturbed. I remain, sir, Yours truly. 

SASHA ROUMOVSKI. 

Eustace Medlicott gasped with astonishment. This Russian gentlemanwas evidently in need of his ministrations and perhaps advice. Hewould go to his room, certainly, there were still some people inthe hall having late coffee and refreshment after the theater. 

He indicated by a condescending movement that he was ready tofollow the waiting servant, and soon found himself being showninto Count Roumovski's sitting-room. It was luxuriously appointedand represented every appearance of manly comfort. There werequantities of books and papers about and the smell of excellentcigars, and put carelessly aside were various objets d'art whichantique dealers had evidently sent for his grand seigneur'sapproval. 

Count Roumovski was standing by the mantelpiece and looked verytall and commanding in his evening dress. 

"It is most good of you to come, " he said, while he indicated abig arm-chair for his visitor to sit in--he did not offer to shakehands. "It was certainly my duty to have called upon you, my onlyapology for getting you to ascend here is that the subject I wishto converse with you is too serious for both of us to admit ofinterruptions. "

"Indeed, " said Mr. Medlicott, pompously--growing more surprisedeach moment. "And may I ask the nature of your trouble?"

Count Roumovski did not change his position by the mantelpiece andhe kept still as a bronze statue as he spoke in a courteous tone:

"It is not a trouble at all, " he began, gravely, "on the contrary, it is a great joy and honor for me. I will state the factsimmediately. I understand that for a short while you have beenengaged to be married to Miss Stella Rawson, the niece of therespected English clergyman, the Reverend Ebley--"

"Pardon me, " interrupted Mr. Medlicott acidly, "but I do not seehow my private affairs can interest you, sir, I cannot--"

But the host in turn interrupted him. 

"If you will be so good as to listen patiently, you will find thatthis matter is of vital importance--may I proceed?"

Mr. Medlicott bowed; what more could he do? Count Roumovski wenton:

"I understand that Miss Rawson never showed very strong affectionfor you or great desire for this union--so what I have to ask nowis, if you, as a gentleman, will release her from her promise toyou and set her free. "

"Upon my word, sir, this is too much, " Mr. Medlicott exclaimed, starting to his feet, "by what authority do you say thesepreposterous things? You were only introduced to Miss Rawson andmyself to-night. You must be mad!"

"No, I am quite sane. And I say them upon the best authority, "Count Roumovski continued, "because I love Miss Rawson myself, andI am deeply honored by believing that in return she loves me--notyou at all. Therefore, it is common sense to ask you to releaseher, and let her be happy with the person she prefers--is it notso?"

Eustace Medlicott had grown white with anger and astonishment ashe listened, and now broke in hotly, forgetful of his intoningvoice or anything but his outraged dignity. 

"When have you had the opportunity to try and undermine the faithof my betrothed, may I ask? Supposing you are saying thisseriously and not as some ill-timed jest. "

Count Roumovski lifted his eyebrows a little and looked almostwith pity at his adversary. "We are not talking in the heroicmanner, " he replied, unmoved by the other's taunt, "we are, Ipresume, two fairly intelligent men discussing this affairtogether--there has been no question of undermining. Miss Rawsonand myself found we understood each other very soon after we firstmet. Surely, you must realize, sir, that love cannot be commanded, it will not come or go at one's bidding. These ridiculous bonds ofconvention, holding to a promise given when the spirit to keep itis no longer there, can ruin people's lives. "

Mr. Medlicott drew himself up, he was not quite so tall as theRussian, but of no mean height, and his intense, ascetic face, emaciated to extreme leanness, now reddened with passion, whilethe veins stood out upon his high, narrow forehead. He was alwaysvery irritable when crossed, and his obstinate nature was stronglycombative. 

"You forget, sir, " he said angrily, "you are insulting my honor. "

"Not the least in the world--you do not understand the point, "Count Roumovski returned calmly. "Listen for a minute--and I willexplain. If Miss Rawson were already your wife I should be, andyou would have the right to try and kill me, did your callingpermit of that satisfaction of gentlemen, because there is apsychological and physiological reason involved in that case, producing the instinct in man which he is not perhaps consciousof, that he wishes to be sure his wife's legitimate offspring arehis own--out of this instinct, civilization has built up the ideaof a man's honor--which you can see has a basic principle of senseand justice. "

Mr. Medlicott with difficulty restrained himself from interruptingand the Russian went on. 

"The situation of betrothed is altogether different: in it therehave merely been promises exchanged, promises, for the most part, which no man or woman can honestly engage with any certainty tokeep, because feeling toward the other is not within his or hercontrol--both are promising upon a sentiment, not a reality. "

"I totally disagree with you, " Eustace Medlicott answered angrily, "when men and women make promises to one another they should havewills strong enough to keep them. "

"For what sensible reason?" Count Roumovski asked. "In a casewhere the happiness of both is involved, and where no damage hasbeen incurred by either--"

Mr. Medlicott clasped his hands convulsively but he did not reply--sothe Russian went on:

"Surely, you must see that a woman should be free to marry--thatis, to give herself and her power to become a mother where sheloves--not to be forced to bestow these sacred gifts when herspirit is unwilling--just because she has made the initial mistakeof affiancing herself to a man, often through others' influence, who she discovers afterward is distasteful to her. Cannot yourealize that it is wise for himself as well as for her that thisman release her, before a life of long misery begins for themboth?"

Mr. Medlicott never analyzed reasons, and never listened to otherpeople's logic, and if he had any of his own he was too angry touse it. He was simply conscious now that a foreigner had insultedhim and appeared to have stolen the affections of his betrothed, and his sacred calling precluded all physical retaliation--which, at the moment, was the only kind that would have given him anysatisfaction. He prepared to stalk furiously from the room afterhe should receive an answer to an all-important question. 

"The whole thing is disgraceful, " he said, "and I shall informMiss Rawson's uncle and aunt of your highly insulting words to me, that they may guard her from further importunity upon your part. But I should like to know, in fairness, how far you are statingyou have been able to persuade my fiancee to agree to your view?"

"I am sorry you should have become so heated and angry, " CountRoumovski returned, "because it stops all sensible discussion. Ideeply regret having been forced to inflict pain upon you, but ifyou would give yourself time to think calmly you would see that, however unfortunate the fact may be for you of Miss Rawson'saffections having become fixed on me--these things are no one'sfault and beyond human control--Miss Rawson has left the breakingoff of her engagement to you in my hands, and has decided that shedesires to marry me, as I desire to marry her, as soon as she isfree. "

"I refuse to listen to another word, " Mr. Medlicott flashed, "andI warn you, sir, that I will give no such freedom at your bidding--onthe contrary, I shall have my marriage with Miss Rawsonsolemnized immediately, and try, if there is a word of truth inyour preposterous assertion that she loves you, to bring her backto a proper sense of her duty to me and to God, repressing herearthly longings by discipline and self-denial, the only truemethods for the saving of her soul. And I and her naturalguardians, her uncle and her aunt, will take care that you neversee her again. "

Count Roumovski raised his eyebrows once more and prepared tolight a cigar. 

"It is a pity you will not discuss this peacefully, sir, " he said, "or apparently even think about it yourself with common sense. Ifyou would do so, you would begin by asking yourself what God gavecertain human beings certain attributes for, " he blew a few whiffsof smoke, "whether to be wasted and crushed out by the intoleranceof others, --or whether to be tended and grow to the highest, asflowers grow with light and air and water. "

"What has that got to do with the case?" asked Mr. Medlicott, tapping his foot uneasily. 

"Everything, " went on the Russian, mildly, "you, I believe, are apriest, and therefore should be better able to expound yourDeity's meaning than I, a layman--but you have evidently not thesame point of view--mine is always to look at the facts of a casedenuded of prejudice--because the truth is the thing to aim at--"

"You would suggest that I am not aiming at the truth, " theclergyman interrupted, trembling now with anger, so that hefiercely grasped the back of a high chair, "your words arepreposterous, sir. "

"Not at all, " Count Roumovski continued. "Look frankly at things;you have just announced that you would constitute yourself judgeof what is for Miss Rawson's salvation. "

"Leave her name out, I insist, " the other put in hotly. 

"To be concrete, unfortunately, I cannot do so, " the Russian said. "I must speak of this lady we are both interested in--pray, try tolisten to me calmly, sir, for we are here for the settling of amatter which concerns the happiness of our three lives. "

"I do not admit for a moment that you have the right to speak atall, " Mr. Medlicott returned, but his adversary went on quietly. 

"You must have remarked that Miss Rawson possesses beauty of form, sweet and tender flesh, soft coloring, and a look of health andwarmth and life. All these charms tend to create in man apassionate physical love. That is cause and effect. For the sakeof the present argument we will, for the moment, leave out allmore important questions of the soul and things mental andspiritual. Well, who gave her these attributes? Did you or I--oreven her parents, consciously? Or did the Supreme Being, whom youcall God, endow her so? Admitted that He did--have you, then, oranyone else, the right to crush out the result of His endowment ina woman; crush her joy of them, force her into a life where theirpossession is looked upon as a temptation? Seek to marry her--remember that marriage physically means being certainly actuatedto do so by their attraction--and yet believing that you sin eachtime you allow them to influence you. " Count Roumovski's levelvoice took on a note of deep emotion and his blue eyes gleamed. "Why, the degradation is horrible to think of, sir, if you willface the truth--and this is the fate to which you would condemnthis young and tender girl for your own selfishness, knowing shedoes not love you. "

Eustace Medlicott walked up and down rapidly for a moment; he thenpicked up a book and threw it aside again in agitation. He wasvery pale now. 

"I refuse to have the woman I have decided to marry snatched fromme by any of your sophistries, " he said breathlessly. "I am betterable than you to save her soul, and she owes me honor andobedience--it is most unseemly to even mention the aspects youhave done in a bond which is a sacrament of holy church and shouldbe only approached in a spiritual frame of mind, not a carnalone. "

"You are talking pure nonsense, sir, " returned Count Roumovskisternly. "If that were the case the wording of your Englishmarriage service would be different. First and foremost, marriageis a contract between two people to live together in union of bodyand to procreate children, which is the law of God and nature. Menadded arrangement and endowment of property, and the church addedspiritual sacrament. But God and nature invented the vital thing. If it were not so, it would have been possible for the spirituallyminded, of which company you infer yourself to be, to live with awoman on terms of brother and sister, and never let the sensesspeak at all. There would then have been no necessity for theceremony of marriage for priests with your views. "

Eustace Medlicott shook with passion and emotion as he answeredfuriously: "You would turn the question into one of whether apriest should marry or not. It is a question which has agitated meall my life, and which I have only lately been able to come to aconclusion upon. I refuse to let you disturb me in it. "

"I had not thought of doing so, " Count Roumovski returnedtranquilly. "You and your views and your destiny do not interestme, I must own, except in so far as they interfere with myself andthe woman I love. You have proved yourself to be just a warpedatom of the great creation, incapable of anything but ignoblenarrowness. You cannot even examine your own emotions honestly andprobe their meaning or you would realize no man should marry, behe priest or layman, if he looks upon the joys of physical love asbase and his succumbing to them a proof of the power of the beastin himself. Because he then lives under continual degradation ofsoul by acting against his conscience. "

Mr. Medlicott was now silent, almost choking with perturbation. SoCount Roumovski went on:

"The wise man faces the facts of nature. Looks straight to findGod's meaning in them, and then tries to exalt and ennoble them totheir loftiest good. He does not, in his puny impotence, quarrelwith the all-powerful Creator and try to stamp out that with whichHe thought fit to endow human beings. "

"Your words convey a flagrant denial of original sin, and I cannotlisten to such an argument, " Mr. Medlicott flashed, his anger nowat white heat. "You would do away with a whole principle of theChristian religion. "

"No; I would only do away with a faulty interpretation which mangrafted upon it, " Count Roumovski answered. 

Then the two men glared straight into each other's eyes for amoment, and Eustace Medlicott quailed beneath the magnetic forceof the Russian's blue ones--he turned away abruptly. He was toointolerant of character and too disturbed now to permit himself tohear more of these reasonings. He could but resort to protest andlet his wrath rise to assist him. 

"It cannot benefit either Miss Rawson or ourselves to continuethis unseemly controversy over her, " he said in a raucous voice. "I have told you I will give no freedom upon your request--and Ihave warned you of my action. Now I shall go, " and he took threesteps toward the door. 

But Count Roumovski's next words arrested him a moment; his tonewas no longer one of suave, detached calmness, but sharp anddecisive, and his bearing was instinct with strength anddetermination. 

"Since we are coming to warnings, " he said, "we drop the velvetglove. The discourtesy to a lady conveyed in your words obliges meto use my own way without further consulting you for assisting herwishes. I will again thank you for coming up here and will havethe honor to wish you goodnight. " With which he opened the doorpolitely and bowed his visitor out. 

And when he was alone Count Roumovski sat down by the open windowand puffed his cigar meditatively for some minutes, smilingquietly to himself as he mused:

"Poor, stupid fellow! If people could only be honest enough withthemselves to have a sensible point of view! It is all so simpleif they would get down to the reason of things without all thisfalse sentiment. Of what use to chain the body of a woman to oneman if her spirit is with another? Of what use to talk of offendedhonor with high-sounding words when, if one were truthful, onewould own it was offended vanity? Of what use for this narrow, foolish clergyman to protest and bombast and rave, underneath heis actuated by mostly human motives in his desire to marry myStella? When will the world learn to be natural and see the truth?Love of the soul is the divine part of the business, but it cannotexist without love of the body. As well ask a man to live uponbread without water. "

Then he moved to his writing table and composed rapidly a letterto his beloved in which he recounted to her the result of theinterview and the threats of her late fiance, and the humor inwhich he had quitted the room, and from that she might judge ofwhat she must reasonably expect. He advised her, as he was unawareof how far the English authority of a guardian might go, to feignsome fatigue and keep her room next day and on no account whateverto be persuaded to leave Rome or the hotel. He told her that inthe morning he would endeavor to see her uncle and aunt, but ifthey refused this interview, he would write and ask formally forher hand, and if his request were treated with scorn, then shemust be prepared to slip away with him to the Excelsior Hotel andbe consigned to the care of the Princess Urazov, his sister, whowould have arrived from Paris. The business part of the epistleover, he allowed himself half a page of love sentences--whichcaused Miss Rawson exquisite delight when she read them somemoments later. 

She had not gone to bed directly, she was too excited and full ofnew emotions to be thinking of sleep, and when she heard Ivan'sgentle tap at her door she crept to it and whispered withoutopening it:

"Who is there?"

A low voice answered: "Une lettre pour mademoiselle. " And theepistle was slipped into the little box for letters on the door. She went back to her wide window and looked out on the darknessafter she had read it. She saw there would be trouble ahead, sheknew Eustace Medlicott's obstinate spirit very well, and also therigid convention of Aunt Caroline--but to what lengths they wouldgo she formulated no guess. 

It all seemed so secure and happy and calm now with such a man tolean upon as Sasha Roumovski. Nothing need ruffle or frighten herever any more. And then she read the love sentences again andthrilled and quivered there in the warm, soft night. SashaRoumovski's influence over her had grown so strong that not aquestioning speculation as to the step she meant to take anylonger entered her head. She felt she knew at last what love'smeaning truly was, and nothing else mattered in the world--which, indeed, was the truth!

Meanwhile, the Reverend Eustace Medlicott, burning with fury, hadstalked to his room, and there tried to think of what he hadbetter do. He feared it was too late to communicate with Canon andMrs. Ebley--they would have retired to bed, and Stella, also. Herehis thoughts were brought up with violent suddenness. Was shequite safe? Heavens above! and he turned quite cold--foreignersmight be capable of any outrage--but presently he dismissed thisfear. People always locked their doors in hotels, and Stella, though she had apparently shown herself sadly unworthy of hisregard, was a thoroughly well brought-up young woman, and wouldnot be likely to bandy words in the night with any young man. Buton the morrow he would insist upon their all leaving the hotel andRome itself--no more chances of her communicating with thishateful Russian count should be risked. 

As the Ebley party had only arrived three days ago in the city, itwas clearly impossible that the affair could have gone far, and ashe had heard of their sightseeing and knew Mrs. Ebley would beextremely unlikely to allow Stella out of her sight in any case, he could not imagine how his fiancee and the Russian could havefound a chance to speak--and even a foreigner could not persuade awoman into this course of action in half an hour's talk at theEmbassy! The whole thing must be the ravings of a madman, nothingmore, and Stella herself would be the first to explain that pointon the morrow. 

But even this comforting thought could not quite calm him--thereremained disquieting recollections of certain forcible argumentshe had been obliged to listen to against his will which had hitsome part of his inner consciousness usually impregnably protectedby his self-conceit. And it was an hour or two before he was ableto drink his barley water and retire to rest, which he felt hebadly needed after his long journey and uncomfortably excitingevening. 

CHAPTER VI

The sun was blazing gloriously next day, the whole air was full offreshness and spring and youth. An ideal one for lovers, and notat all the atmosphere for anger and strife. But these facts didnot enter into the consideration of three of the people, at least, connected with our little comedy. 

Eustace Medlicott woke more full of wrath than he had been thenight before, and, the moment he was dressed, proceeded to makehavoc with the peace of the Reverend Canon and Mrs. Ebley. He sentup an urgent summons that they would see him immediately. Havingno sitting-room, he suggested the reading-room, which would beempty at this hour. 

The Aunt Caroline had experienced some misgivings herself at theEmbassy about her niece's absence with the foreign count, who hadrisen to this distinctive appellation in her mind from "thatdreadful man, " but she had felt it more prudent not to commentupon her apprehensions to her niece. Eustace evidently haddiscovered further cause of resentment and feminine curiosityassisted her to dress with greater rapidity than usual. 

The pair entered the room with grave faces and took twouncomfortable chairs. 

The Reverend Mr. Medlicott remained standing, and soon, from hiscommanding position, let them hear his version of the hatedforeigner's communications. They were duly horrified and surprisedand then Mrs. Ebley bridled a little--after all, it was thebehavior of her own niece upon which aspersion was being cast. 

"I am certain, Eustace, the man must be mad--I assure you, Stellahas not been for an instant absent from me, except yesterdaymorning she went to the Thermes Museum with Martha, whom you knowhas proved by twenty-five years of faithful service that she canbe completely trusted, therefore the girl cannot have had anyopportunity of conversing with this stranger until last night. Itwould be only fair to question her first--"

"My wife is quite right, " Canon Ebley agreed. "We should listen tono more until Stella is here to defend herself. Let us send amessage for her to descend at once. "

He went and rang the bell as he spoke, and the summons to MissRawson was dispatched. Then the three somewhat uncomfortably triedto exchange platitudes upon indifferent subjects until the waiterreturned. 

Mademoiselle was very fatigued and was not yet up! Such an unheardof thing petrified them all with astonishment. Stella to be stillin bed, at half past nine in the morning! The child must be ill!--or it was distinct rebellion. Mrs. Ebley prepared to go andinvestigate matters when another waiter entered with a note forCanon Ebley, and stood aside to receive the answer. 

"Dear, dear!" said that gentleman to his wife, "I have not myglasses with me, I came down in such a hurry. Will you read it tome?"

But Mrs. Ebley was in a like plight, so they were obliged toenlist the services of Eustace Medlicott. 

He knew the writing directly he glanced at it and every move ofhis body stiffened with renewed anger. And it is to be feared hesaid to himself, "it is from that cursed man. "

He read it aloud, and it was the briefest and most courteous noteasking for the honor of an interview at whatever time would bemost agreeable to Canon Ebley. The nature of the business to bediscussed at it was not stated. 

"I strongly advise you not to see the scoundrel, " Mr. Medlicottsaid vehemently. "It is far better that we should all leave Romeimmediately and avoid any chance of scandal. "

"Before we can decide anything, " Mrs. Ebley said decisively, "Imust speak with my niece. If she is quite ignorant of thisforeigner's ravings, then there will be no necessity to alter ourtrip--we can merely move to another hotel. The whole thing is mostunpleasant and irritating and has quite upset me. "

Stella, upstairs in her cosy bed, had meanwhile received anothernote from her lover. Full of tenderness and encouragement, it madeher feel as bold as a young lioness and ready to brave any attack. That her aunt had not been to see why she was not dressed alreadywas filling her with surprise, and after the waiter had broughtthe message she guessed the reason why. 

A firm tap to the door presently and her Aunt Caroline's voicesaying sternly. "It is I, Stella, please let me in at once. "

Miss Rawson got out of bed, unlocked the door and bounded backagain, and a figure of dignified displeasure sailed into the room. 

"Are you ill, my dear?" Mrs. Ebley asked, in a stern voice. "It isotherwise very strange that you should not be dressed at thishour--it is a quarter to ten o'clock. "

"No, I am not exactly ill, Aunt Caroline, " Stella answered gently, "but I was very tired, and as I was making up my mind what Ishould say in my letter to Eustace to break off my engagement--Ipreferred not to come down until I had done so. "

The Aunt Caroline could not believe her ears. She was obliged tosit down. Her emotion made her knees tremble. It was true then--something had been going on under her very eyes and she had notperceived it--the deceit and perfidy of human nature had alwaysbeen a shock to her--

"You wish to break your engagement, Stella, " she said, as soon asshe could steady her voice. "But you cannot possibly do soscandalous a thing--and for what reason, pray?"

"I find I do not love Eustace, " Stella answered calmly, althoughher heart now began to beat rapidly. "I know I never have lovedhim; it was only because I thought it would please you and UncleErasmus that I ever became engaged to him, and now that I knowwhat love is--I mean now that the time is getting nearer, I feelthat I cannot go through with it. "

"There is something underneath all this, Stella, " Mrs. Ebley saidicily. "You cannot deceive me. You have been led astray, girl--itis wiser to confess at once and I will try to pardon you. "

Stella's spirit rose--she raised her head proudly, then sheremembered her lover's counsel to have no arguments whatsoever, and so she curbed her heated words and continued gently:

"I have not been led astray, Aunt Caroline, and there is nothingto pardon. I am twenty-one years old now and surely can judge formyself whether or no I wish to marry a man--and I have decided Ido not intend to marry Eustace Medlicott. I almost feel I detesthim. "

Mrs. Ebley was petrified with anger and astonishment. 

"I am sorry to tell you I cannot believe you, Stella, " she said, "your fiance had a most unpleasant shock last night. The foreignperson, Count Roumovski, who was presented to us at the Embassy, insulted him greatly, and told him that you had agreed to marryhim as soon as Eustace should set you free! I almost blush torepeat to you this shocking story which we had considered theravings of a madman, but the time has come when we must have someplain speaking. "

"It has indeed, " Stella agreed, her wrath rising, then went onrespectfully, "but I must refuse to discuss anything about CountRoumovski at present. Please believe me that I do not wish toannoy you, dear Aunt Caroline. I only wish to do what is right, and I know it is right to break off my engagement with EustaceMedlicott. "

Mrs. Ebley felt her anger augmenting to boiling point, butnothing, she could say had any effect upon her niece, who remainedextremely respectful and gentle, but perfectly firm. Mrs. Ebleycould not get her to tell her anything about her acquaintance withthis dreadful foreigner. She became silent after she had refusedpoint blank to discuss him. At last the baffled and exasperatedolder lady got up and fired her last shot. 

"Words cannot express my pain and disgust at your conduct, Stella, " she said. "Putting aside all the awful suspicions I haveabout this Russian, you will lay up for yourself a lifelong regretin outraging all decency by refusing to marry that good and pureyoung clergyman, Eustace Medlicott. "

"I have done nothing wrong, Aunt Caroline, please do not go awayangry with me, " Stella pleaded. "When Count Roumovski asks UncleErasmus' and your consent to his marrying me--then I will tell youeverything about him, --but now I do not wish to. Please forgive mefor causing you pain--we shall all be very happy soon, and surelyI have a right to my life like any other person. "

Mrs. Ebley would not bandy further words; their points of viewwere too different. 

"I regret that I am obliged to request you to keep your room andhave no communication with anyone whatever until I can consultwith your uncle and Eustace as to what is the best thing to dowith you. That we shall leave Rome immediately you may be preparedfor. "

Stella here burst into tears. She had an affection for her aunt, who had always been kind to her in a hard, cold way, and she wasdeeply grieved at their estrangement, but there were forces inlife which she knew now mattered more than any aunts in the world. 

Mrs. Ebley did not relent at the sound of the sobbing, but leftthe room, closing the door firmly after her. And a few minutesafterward Martha was let in by the chambermaid without knockingand sat down grimly by the window and began to knit. 

Then Stella's tears turned to resentment. To be insulted so! Tohave a servant sent to watch her was more than she would bear. Butas she turned in bed she felt her lover's note touch her and likea magic wand a thrill of comfort rushed through her. After all, hewould settle things for her--and meanwhile she would close hereyes and pretend to sleep. So with her precious love letterclasped tight in her hand under the clothes she turned her face tothe wall and shut her eyes. 

Meanwhile, Canon Ebley and the Reverend Eustace Medlicott werespending a very disagreeable time in the reading-room. Relieved ofMrs. Ebley's presence, Eustace had recounted more fully theinterview he had had with Sasha Roumovski the night before. He wasnot a very accurate person and apt to color everything with hisown prejudice, so Canon Ebley did not obtain a very clear idea ofthe Russian's arguments. They seemed to him to be very unorthodoxand carnal and reprehensible from all points. But it was evidentthey were dealing with a clever and dangerous character and Stellamust be rescued from such a person's influence and married off toher lawful fiance at once. 

"We could have the ceremony here, Eustace, in three weeks' time, or we could go back to England immediately, for until our niece isyour wife I am sure her aunt and myself will not feel easy abouther. "

"Nor I either, " Mr. Medlicott returned, and at that moment theAunt Caroline entered the room and gradually disclosed the awfultruth she had arrived at from Miss Rawson's admissions. 

"That dreadful foreigner must he told at once we refuse to haveany communication with him and Stella shall be kept locked in herroom until we can leave Rome, " Mrs. Ebley said sternly. "I couldnot have believed my own sister's child could have behaved sodisgracefully. "

"Dear, dear, " said Canon Ebley, "but we must get at the facts ofwhen she has been able to see this Russian. It is impossible thatthe present state of things could have arisen from merely lastnight at the Embassy. "

At this stage of the proceedings, it being a public room, CountRoumovski entered it serenely and, coming toward the group, made astiff bow to each in turn. 

"I believe you have received my letter, sir, " he said, addressingCanon Ebley, "but, as I have had no reply, I ventured to presentmyself without further delay--"

"We do not wish for any communication from you, " Eustace Medlicotthastened to announce before either of the others could speak. "Ihave informed Canon and Mrs. Ebley of your disgraceful conduct andthat is sufficient. We shall discuss nothing further. "

"I was not addressing you, sir, " Count Roumovski returned mildly. "My business with you terminated last night. " And he turned hisshoulders to the irate junior chaplain and looked Canon Ebleystraight in the face. "I am here to ask for the hand of yourniece, Miss Rawson, as she is now free from other engagements, andwith her full consent I desire to make her my wife. "

"Come, Erasmus, " Mrs. Ebley said with icy dignity. "Let us go upto our apartment and if this person annoys us further we cancomplain to the manager of the hotel, " then, with an annihilatingglance, she took her husband's arm and drew him toward the door. 

"As you will, madame, " and the Russian gentleman bowed withrespectful serenity. "It would have been more sensible to havetaken my request otherwise, but it is, after all, quiteimmaterial. I will wish you a good-day, " and he bowed again asCanon Ebley and his outraged spouse sailed from the room--and, with an exclamation of suppressed fury, Eustace Medlicott followedin their wake. 

Then Count Roumovski laughed softly to himself and, sitting downat a writing-table, wrote a letter to his beloved. His whole planof life was simple and direct. He had done what he considered wasnecessary in the affair, he had behaved with perfect openness andhonor in his demand, and if these people could not see the thingfrom a common sense point of view, they were no longer to beconsidered. He would take the law into his own hands. 

When he had finished his note he went straight up in the lift tothe corridor where Stella's room was and there saw in the distanceher raging and discomfited late betrothed evidently keeping watchand ward. Count Roumovski did not hesitate a second; he advancedto the door and knocked firmly on the panel, slipping his letterthrough the little slide for such things before Mr. Medlicottcould bound forward and prevent him. 

"A letter for you, mademoiselle, from me, Sasha Roumovski, " hesaid in French in a loud enough voice for the occupant of the roomto hear, and then he stood still for a second, as both men heardStella jump from her bed and rush to the door to take the missivebefore Martha from the place at the window could intercept it. 

"Do not dare to touch that, Martha, " they heard her voice sayhaughtily, and then she called out, "Sasha, I have it safe and Iwill do exactly as you direct. "

Count Roumovski looked at Eustace Medlicott, who stood as aspread-eagle in front of the door--and then, smiling, went calmlyon his way. 

The Reverend Mr. Medlicott shook with burning rage. He was beingmade to look ridiculous and he was absolutely impotent toretaliate in any way. He would bring scandal upon them all ifwaiters and other guests saw him guarding Miss Rawson's actualdoor, and he could not sit outside like a valet; the whole thingwas unspeakably maddening, and murderous thoughts flooded hisbrain. 

"Give me that letter this minute, Stella, " he said in an almostinarticulate voice through the keyhole, he was so shaken withpassion. "Open the door and let Martha hand it to me. You aredisgracing us all. "

"It is you who are doing that, Eustace, " Stella said from beyondthe panel, lifting the slide that her voice might be hearddistinctly. "You have no authority over me at all. I told AuntCaroline I did not intend to continue my engagement with you--buteven if I had not decided to break it off, this conduct of yourswould now be sufficient reason. How dare you all treat me asthough I were a naughty child or insane!"

"Because you are both, " Mr. Medlicott returned, "and must becontrolled and compelled into a proper behavior. "

Stella was silent--she would not be so undignified as to parleyfurther. She got back into bed, taking not the slightest notice ofthe maid, and then proceeded to read her letter. 

Her lover had explained in it the situation and advised her todress at once, and then if menaced in any way to ring the bell. Ivan would be waiting outside to obey her slightest orders, and towarn his master if any fresh moves were made, so that when thewaiter or chambermaid came in answer to her summons she might besure of extra help at hand. Then she was to walk out and down intothe hall, where he, Sasha, would be watching for her and ready totake her to the Excelsior Hotel, where that same evening wouldarrive the Princess Urazov. "But if they do not molest you, dearest, " he wrote, "do not leave your room until seven o'clock, because I wish my sister to be in the hall ready to receive youthat your family can see that I only desire to do everythingright. "

And as she finished reading, Stella got up and told Martha toprepare her things. 

"I have no orders from Mrs. Ebley for that, Miss Stella, " thewoman answered sullenly. "I do wonder what has come overeverybody. I never was in such an uncomfortable position in mylife. "

Stella made no answer, but proceeded to dress herself, and thensat down to read again the letters she had received in the lasttwenty-four hours. 

If her family, who knew her, could treat her in this abominableway, when she had committed no fault except the very human one ofdesiring to be the arbiter of her own fate, she surely owed nofurther obedience to them. So she waited calmly for a fresh turnof events. 

Her luncheon was brought up on a tray by the waiter, and some forMartha also, and the two ate in silence, until Stella suddenlyburst into a merry peal of laughter, it was so grotesquely comic!A grown up English girl in these days locked in her room with adragon duenna gaoler!

"Martha, isn't it too funny, the whole thing!" she said, betweenher gurgles. "Can't you laugh, you old goose! and to think howsorry you will be, you were so horrid, when I am gone, because, ofcourse, you know you cannot keep me once I make up my mind to go. "

"Mrs. Ebley said I was to have no conversation with you, Miss, "Martha said, glumly, at which Stella laughed afresh. 

Meanwhile Count Roumovski had made all arrangements at theExcelsior Hotel, and after lunch sat quietly in the hall awaitinghis beloved. Mrs. Ebley had felt too upset to go down to therestaurant, so the two clergymen were there alone, and glancedwrathfully at the imperturbable face of Count Roumovski seated athis usual table, with his air of detached aloofness and perfectcalm. They, on the contrary, were so boiling with rage that theyknew not what they ate. 

After lunch it had been decided that the party should leave theGrand and take the five o'clock train to Florence, and theirpreparations were made. 

Mrs. Ebley had herself been laboriously packing so as not to takeMartha from her post, and orders were whispered to that faithfulAbigail through Stella's letter slide to pack Miss Rawson's thingsat once. 

Stella watched these preparations serenely, and gave Marthadirections as to what to put on the top. Then when all wasfinished and she had donned her hat, she rang the electric bellfor the waiter, and when he knocked at the door she calmly badehim enter, which, of course, he was able to do with his key, andshe told him in French, which Martha did not understand, to sendthe porters there immediately, and have her luggage consigned tothe care of the servant who would be waiting in the passage. Thisperson would give orders for its destination. The waiter bowedobsequiously. Had he not been already heavily tipped by thisintelligent Ivan, and instructed instantly to obey the orders ofmademoiselle?"

"It is much better I am before them, " Stella thought to herself, while Martha looked on in rageful bafflement. 

"The porters will come up and take the trunks outside, Martha, "Miss Rawson said. "You can give them what orders aunt told youto. "

Such was her supreme confidence in the methods of her lover thatshe felt sure once Ivan was apprised of the fact by the waiterthat the trunks would be consigned to him it would not matter whatMartha said to the porters! So she calmly sat down by the windowand folded her hands, while the elderly maid fumed with theuncertainty of what she ought to do. And in a few moments the menappeared, and smilingly seemed to understand the gestures andEnglish orders of Martha to take the trunks to the door of MadamEbley, number 325, round the corner of the passage and on theopposite side. 

They nodded their heads wisely and carried the box out, shuttingthe door after them, and then there was silence for a while; andStella half-dozed in her chair, it was so warm and peaceful by thewindow and she had had so little sleep in the night. 

An hour passed, and at four o'clock the Aunt Caroline appeared. Her face was grim. Had Stella been an outcast in deed and word shecould not have looked more disdainful. 

"You must come down with me now, Stella, " she said, "we are readyto go to the station. I will remain with you here until Marthagets her hat. "

Stella rose to her feet and before the astonished lady could speakmore, she had swiftly passed her and gained the door, which shethrew open, and, like a fawn, rushed down the passage toward thestaircase entrance side of the hotel, and by the time her slowlymoving aunt had emerged from the room she had turned the cornerand was out of sight. 

Fortunately, she met no one on the stairs except one astonishedpage, and arrived in the outer corridor breathless with excitementand emotion. 

Count Roumovski saw her through the door of the hall, and hastenedto meet her. 

"There is not a moment to be lost, " she said, as he got to herside. 

"Go to the place you went before under the trees, " he whisperedhurriedly in return. "The automobile is there, and I will followpresently. " So she went. 

Her knees would hardly support her, she trembled so, until she wassafe in the big blue motor, which moved off at once. For an awfulmoment a hideous sense of terror overcame her, making her cold. What lay in front of her? What new fate?--and then joy and lifecame back. She was going to freedom and love-away from Exminsterand dreary duties--away from Eustace Medlicott, for ever! For, ofcourse, her uncle and aunt would come round in time, and theycould be happy again with her some day. 

When Mrs. Ebley had collected her scattered senses and followeddown the passage only to find Stella out of sight, she was obligedto retrace her steps and rejoin her husband and Mr. Medlicott, whowere awaiting her at the lift on the other side, the restaurantend, which was the one they were accustomed to descend by. 

"She ran away from me, Erasmus!" the agitated lady cried, "passedme without a word, and I suppose has gone down the stairs--if wehasten in the lift we shall catch her yet. "

But as they frantically rang the bell and the lift boy did notcome, Eustace Medlicott, with a most unsaintly exclamation, hastened off by that staircase and arrived in the hall to see thehated Russian calmly smoking his cigarette and reading an Englishpaper. 

He advanced upon him regardless of the numbers of people beginningto assemble for tea. 

"What have you done with Miss Rawson?" he asked furiously. "Shehas this moment run away from her aunt. "

"I have nothing to converse with you about, " Count Roumovskireturned, with mild surprise. "And, as I see it is four o'clock, Imust wish you a good-day, as I have an appointment, " with which herose quietly before the other could prevent him, and crossed thebroad path of carpet which separates the groups of chairs, andthere was seen to enter into earnest conversation with a Russian-looking individual who had just entered. 

The Reverend Mr. Medlicott was nonplussed, and hurried into thefront vestibule, where he made rapid inquiries of the hall-porter. 

Yes--the young lady, he believed, had walked out of the hotel nottwo minutes before. Monsieur would overtake her certainly, if hehastened. And the frantic young man rushed from the door, throughthe porte cochere, and so to the street, but all he saw in the fardistance was a retreating large, blue automobile--and thisconveyed among all the rest of the traffic no impression whatever. 

To search for Stella was hopeless; the only thing to do was toreturn to the Ebleys, and with them go to the Embassy. There theycould, perhaps, get advice and help how to communicate with thepolice. 

But what an ignominious position for a Bishop's junior chaplain tobe placed in, a humiliation in every way!

CHAPTER VII

When Stella found the automobile drawing up at a strange hotel'sdoors her tremors broke out afresh, until she saw the face ofIvan, who, with the porter, came forward to meet her, sayingrespectfully in French, would mademoiselle be pleased to mountdirectly to the rooms reserved for the Princess Urazov? And soon, without anyone questioning her, she found herself being taken upin the lift, and finally ushered into a charming sitting-room fullof flowers. 

Here she sat down and trembled again. The wildest excitementfilled her veins. Would Sasha never come! She could not sit still, she walked from bouquet to bouquet of roses and carnations, sniffing the scent, and at last subsided into a big armchair, asthe waiters brought in some tea. 

He thought of everything for her, then--her lover. But oh, why didhe not come!

She had finished her tea and had begun her restless pacing again, when, with a gentle tap, the door opened, and Count Roumovskiappeared. 

"Sasha!" she cried, and advanced toward him like a frightenedchild. 

His usually calm blue eyes were blazing with some emotion whichdisturbed her greatly, she knew not why, and his voice seemed tohave taken a tone of extra deepness, as he said:

"Stella! My little star! And so you are really here--and my own!"

He put his strong hands down and held on to the back of a chair, and simple as she was she knew very well that otherwise he wouldhave taken her into his arms, which was where she was longing tobe, if she had known. 

"Yes, I have come, " she whispered, "I have left them all--for you. Oh! when will your sister be here?"

"Not until six o'clock, darling, " he answered, while his eyesmelted upon her with passionate love. "There is an hour yet towait. I had hoped you would not have been forced to leave youraunt's care until then. "

"Oh! I am delighted to have come away, " Stella answered, regainingsome of her composure. "I was shut into my room and watched by aservant. It was awful! But do--you know what has happened now?since I left? Are they tearing about after me, or what?"

Count Roumovski still held on to the back of the chair, and hisvoice was still deep, as he said:

"I believe they have gone to your Embassy in a band--and much goodmay they get there. You are of age, you see. Besides, I have takencare that no one at the Grand Hotel knows where we have gone, andit will take them quite an hour or two to telephone about and findout--and by that time my sister will have arrived, and we can defythem. "

"Yes, " said Stella, and then, nervously, "won't you have sometea?"

He sat down, still constrainedly and clasped his hands, andwomanlike, when she saw his agitation, her own lessened, and sheassumed command, while she asked almost archly if he took creamand sugar. 

He liked neither, he said, and with the air of a little hostessshe handed him the cup. Then she smiled softly and stood quitenear him. 

He drew himself together and his face looked almost stern as hetook the tea, and over Stella there crept a chill--and the gaylittle speech that had been bubbling to her lips died there, and asilence fell upon them for a few moments. Then he put down his cupand crossed to the stiff sofa where she was, and sat down besideher. 

"Sweetheart, " he said, looking deeply into her eyes, "it is acolossal temptation, you know, to me to make love to you. But I amnot going to permit myself that happiness yet. I want to tell youall about what we shall do presently, and see if it pleases you. "He did not even take her hand, and Stella felt rather aggrievedand wounded. "I propose that as soon as the formalities can be gotthrough, and the wedding can take place, that we go straight toParis--because you will want to get all kinds of clothes. And itwill be such a delight to me to give you everything you wish for. "

Stella smiled shyly. It seemed suddenly to bring realities ofthings before her with keen force. He would have the right to giveher everything in the world--this man whom she did not reallyknow, but whom she felt she loved very much. She clasped her handsand a thrill ran through her. What, what did it all mean? The ideaof her marriage with Eustace Medlicott had always appeared as anugly vision, an end to everything, a curtain which was yet drawnover a view which could only be all dusk and gray shadows, andwhich she would rather not contemplate. But now the thought ofgoing away and beginning a new existence with Sasha Roumovski wassomething so glorious and delicious that she quivered with joy atany reference to it. 

Her little movement and the clasping of her hands affected himprofoundly. He, too, quivered, but with the stern effort tocontrol himself. It was part of his code of honor. Not theslightest advantage must be taken of the situation while Stellawas alone and unchaperoned, although the very fact of theirpropinquity and the knowledge of their solitude were extremelyexciting to him, who knew the meaning of every emotion. He drew alittle away from her, and said in a voice that sounded cold:

"I have seen the consul this afternoon. It will take three weeks, I am afraid, before we can be legally married here in Rome. Itseems an eternity to me. "

"Yes, " agreed Stella, and suddenly looked down. She wishedintensely that he would caress her a little--although she wasunaware of the desire. She wondered vaguely--was it then verywicked to make love, since Sasha, too, like Eustace, seemed as ifhe were resisting something with all his strength? Andunconsciously she pouted her red underlip, and Count Roumovskimoved convulsively. 

"My sister's room is next to this, " he said, "and yours is beyond. I have had only roses put there, because you are like a sweet Junerose. "

"Am I?" said Miss Rawson, and raised her head. She had grownextremely excited and disappointed, and, she knew not what, onlythat she did not like this new lover of hers to be sitting thereconstrained and aloof, talking in a stiff voice unlike his usualeasy grace. It was perfectly ridiculous to have run away with someone with whom she was passionately in love, if he were going toremain as cold as ice!

She got up and took a rose from a vase and fastened it in herdress. The whole movement and action had the unconscious coquetryof a woman's methods to gain her end. Totally unaccustomed asStella was to all artifices, instinct was her teacher. 

Sasha Roumovski rose suddenly. 

"Come and sit here beside me again, heart of mine, " he commandedwith imperious love, and indicated the stiff Louis XIV sofa. "Imust explain everything to you, it would seem. "

Stella had never heard this tone in his voice before; it causedher strange delight, and she shyly took her seat at one end of thesofa, and then, as he flung himself down beside her, she looked upat him. 

"What must you explain?" she asked. 

"First, that I love you madly, that it is sickening temptation tobe with you now every instant without holding you in my arms, " andhis voice trembled, while his blue eyes glowed. "That I do notknow how to resist the wild passion which is overcoming me. I wantto kiss you so terribly, more than I have ever wanted anything inmy life. "

"We-ll?" said Stella, with a quiver of exquisite joy. "And--" shehad almost spoken her thought of, "Why do you not do so, then?"--but the burning passion she read in his made her drop her eyes. This was too much for him. He understood perfectly, and, with alittle cry, he drew her to him, and his lips had almost touchedher red, young, pouting lips when he suddenly controlled himselfand put her from him. 

"No, sweetheart, " he said hoarsely, "you would never respect meany more if I took advantage of your tenderness now. As soon--assoon as I really may, I will teach you every shade of love and itsmeanings. I will kiss those lips and unloosen that hair; I willsuffocate you with caresses and make you thrill as I shall thrilluntil we both forget everything in the intoxication of bliss, " andhe half-closed his eyes, and his face grew pale again withsuppressed emotion. 

"Oh, I do not understand at all, " Stella said, in a disappointedand perplexed voice. "Since we are going to be married, why wouldit be so very wrong for you to kiss me? I--I--" her small ruefulface, with its sweet childlike irregular curves, looked almostpathetically comic, and Sasha leaned forward and covered his eyeswith his hands. And then he mastered himself and laughed softly. 

"Oh, you adorable one!" he said. "It is not wrong--not the leastwrong. Only presently, when you do understand, you will realizehow very much I loved you to-day. "

But Stella was still pouting--and got up restlessly and went tothe window. 

"What can they do when they get to the Embassy?" she asked. "Couldthey really take me back if they found me by telephoning round?"

"I do not think so--if you are past twenty-one. "

"I was twenty-one in April. I am not a bit afraid of them, but Ido not want to have any row. "

"When my sister has arrived you must write to your aunt, and tellwhere you are and what are your intentions, then all will befinished. "

"Oh, I wish she would come, don't you?" Stella said. 

"More than I can say, darling, " he answered, fervently. "You willnot, I hope, find me so incomprehensible then. "

He walked about the room once or twice, and at last paused infront of her. 

"Stella, " he whispered, while his eyes blazed again, "I cannotbear it, little sweetheart, to stay all alone with you here. Willyou forgive me, if I leave you until Anastasia has arrived? Go andrest in your room, darling, and I will go to the station to meether. Ivan will remain outside your door and you will be quitesafe. "

But Stella put out her hands like a frightened baby. 

"Oh. Must you leave me?" she cried, pettishly. "You are verycruel! You make me almost wish I had not come. "

From having swum with love and passion his eyes suddenly gaveforth a flash of steel, and his voice was like ice as he answered:

"If that is so, mademoiselle, it is not too late. I would notexact any unwilling sacrifice. Shall I take you back again?"

And then Stella's childishness melted and fell from her, and shebecame a real woman as she looked into his stern face. 

"No--" she said, "I will not go back. I am sorry I was souncontrolled, but I am nervous--and I do not know exactly what Iam--Sasha, please take care of me, " and she held out her handswith a piteous gesture of asking for his protection, and movedbeyond all power of further control he folded her in his arms. 

"My darling, my darling!" he murmured, frantically kissing herhair. But his iron will reasserted itself in a few seconds, andwhile he still held her he said with more calm:

"Little star, you must never speak to me like that again, as youdid just now, I mean. It was unreasonable and not kind, if you butknew! And I have a very arrogant temper, I fear, although I amnearly master of it, and shall be quite in time, I hope. We mighthave parted then and spoilt both our lives. Won't you believe methat I love--I adore you!" he went on tenderly. "I am madlylonging to be for you the most passionate lover a woman ever had. It is only for your sake and for honor and our future happinessthat I restrain myself now. You see I am not an Englishman who canaccept half-measures. Do not make it impossible for me, sweetlove!"

His voice was almost a sob in its deep notes of pleading, andStella was touched. 

"Oh! you are so dear and great, " she answered fondly. "I amperhaps very wicked to have tempted you. If it would be wrong foryou to kiss me, which I cannot understand, it is--oh, it isbecause I love you like that, too!"

At this ingenuous admission, passion nearly overcame him again, and he held her so tightly it seemed as if he must crush out hervery breath. Then he put her from him and walked toward the door. 

"I dare not stay another second, " he said, in a strangled voice. "Ivan will guard your room, and my sister will come to you soon. Do as I tell you, beloved one, and then all will be well. "

With which he opened the door, and left her standing by the sofaquivering with a strange joy and perplexity--and some other wildemotion of which she had not dreamed. 

CHAPTER VIII

It seemed an endless time the hour that she waited in her room, and then a knock came to the door, and Ivan's voice saying hismaster desired her presence in the sitting-room at once, and shehurriedly went there to find Count Roumovski standing by themantelpiece looking very grave. 

"Stella, " he said, "there has been an accident to the train mysister was to have arrived by--it is not serious, but she cannotbe here now until the early morning perhaps--unless I send theautomobile to Viterbo for her. The line is blocked by a broken-down goods train which caused the disaster, " he paused a moment, and Stella said, "Well?" rather anxiously. 

"It will be impossible for us to remain here, " he continued, "because it may be that your relations, aided by the Embassy, willhave traced us before then, and if they should come upon us alonetogether, nothing that I could say or prove could keep thesituation from looking compromising, "--he now spoke with his oldcalm, and Stella felt her confidence reviving. He would certainlyarrange what was best for them, she could rely upon that. 

"What must we do then?" she asked gently, while she put her headon the sleeve of his coat. 

"I will wrap you up in the fur cloak, darling, " he said, "and youmust come in the automobile with me to meet Anastasia. Your familymust not find you again until your are in my sister's company. Weought to start at once. "

It spoke eloquently for the impression which he had been able tocreate in Stella's imagination of his integrity and reliability, for the thought never entered her brain that it was a most unusualand even hazardous undertaking to start out into the night in aforeign land with a stranger she had not yet known for a week. Butthat was the remarkable thing about his personality; it conveyedalways an atmosphere of trust and confidence. 

It was not long before Miss Rawson was ready, wrapped in the longgray cloak she had worn before, and with the veil tied over herhat, and was descending in the lift alone with Ivan--her loverhaving gone on by the stairs. 

Their departure was managed with intelligence. Stella and theservant simply walking out of the hotel and down the street towhere the car waited, and then presently Count Roumovski joinedthem, and they started. 

"Ivan will remain behind to answer any questions if the reverendclergyman and your aunt do come, " he said, when they were seatedin the car in the settling sunlight. "And now, sweetheart, we canenjoy our drive. "

Stella felt deliciously excited, all the exultation of adventurethrilling her, and the joy of her lover's presence. She cared notwhere they were going, it was all heaven. 

"We shall stop at a little restaurant for some dinner, " he said, "it will be rather bad, but we must not mind, it would not havebeen wise to risk any well-known place, " and soon they drew up ata small cafe on the outskirts of Rome, where there were a fewpeople already seated at little tables under the trees. They wereall Italians, and took no notice of the Russian and his lady. 

It was the greatest amusement to them both, this primitive place, and to be all alone ordering their first meal together, and SashaRoumovski exerted himself to charm and please her. He hadrecovered complete mastery of himself, it would seem, and hismanner, while tenderly devoted, had an air of proprietorship whichaffected Stella exceedingly. 

They spent an enchanting half hour, as gay as two children, withall the exquisite under-current of love in their talk; and thenthey got into the motor again. 

"Let us have it open, " Count Roumovski said. "The evening drivewill be divine. "

And Stella agreed. 

The road to Viterbo is far from good, one of those splendid routeswhich lead from Rome which ought to be so perfect and in realityare a mass of ruts and pitfalls for the unwary. The jolting of thecar constantly threw Stella almost into her lover's arms, who wassitting as aloof as possible. He had gradually become nearlysilent, and sat there holding her hand under the rug, using thewhole of his strong will to suppress his rising emotion. 

The beautiful colors of the lights of evening over the Campagna;the sense of the spring time and the knowledge that she belongedto him heart and body and soul were madly intoxicating as theyrushed through the air. He dared not let himself caress hergently, which he might have permitted himself to do, and he heldher little hand so tightly it was almost pain to her. 

As for Stella, she was profoundly in love. Her whole nature seemedto be awaking and blooming with a new grace and meaning. Her softeyes, which glanced at him in the glowing dusk, swam withtenderness and unconscious passion, and once she let her head restupon his shoulder, when a violent jerk threw her toward him, andat last he encircled her with his arm and there they sat tremblingtogether, she with she knew not what, and he very well knowing, and fighting with temptation. 

Thus they spent an hour in a bliss that was growing to agony forhim, and then it grew perfectly dark, and the stars came out inmyriads in the deep blue sky, and on in front of them theheadlights of the motor made a flaming path in the night. 

And all this while he had resisted his strong desires, and nevereven kissed her. 

At last human endurance came to an end, and he said to her almostfiercely:

"Stella, my beloved one, I cannot bear this, I can no longeranswer for myself. I shall settle you comfortably among the furswhere you must try to sleep, and I shall go outside with thechauffeur. If I were to stay--"

And something in the tone of his voice and in his eyes made her atlast have some dim, incomprehensible fear, and yet exaltation, andso she did not try to dissuade him, and soon was alone endeavoringto collect her thoughts and understand the situation. 

Thus eventually they reached Viterbo, and drew up at the stationdoor, when Count Roumovski seemed to have regained his usual calmas he helped her out with tender solicitude. The passengers, theylearned, were still in the train, half a mile up the line, waitinguntil it was cleared to go on to Rome. 

At last, after generous greasing of palms, permission was givenfor Count Roumovski to walk on and find his sister. And Stella wasput back into the motor to await their coming. 

Her heart began to beat violently. What would she be like, thisfuture sister-in-law? She must be very fond of Sasha to have comefrom Paris at a moment's notice like this, to do his bidding. Itseemed a long time before she heard voices, and saw in the dimlight two figures advancing from the station entrance, and thenCount Roumovski opened the door of the automobile, and Stellastarted forward to get out. 

"Anastasia, this is my Stella, " he said, in his deep voice. "Youcannot see her plainly, but I tell you she is the sweetest littlelady in the world, and you are to hasten to love each other asmuch as I love you both. "

Then in the half dark Stella stepped down and found herselfembraced by a tall woman, while a voice as deep for a feminine oneas Count Roumovski's was for a man whispered kind, nice things inthe fluent English which brother and sister both used. And afeeling of warmth and security and happiness came over the poorchild, to be in a haven of rest at last. 

"Now we shall all pack in and get to Rome before dawn, " theprincess said. "Sasha assures me the automobile will be fasterthan the train. "

So it was arranged, and, with Stella between them, the twoRussians sat in the commodious back seat, and this time CountRoumovski allowed himself to encircle his beloved with his arm--and very often surreptitiously kissed her little ear and thatdelicious little curl of hair in her neck. She had taken off herhat, that its brim might not hit the princess, and had only thesoft veil wound round her head, which loosened itselfconveniently. This drive back to Rome was a time of pureenchantment to them both. And when the first streaks of dawn werecoloring the sky they arrived at the door of the Excelsior Hotel, where Ivan had supper ordered and awaiting them. 

The princess proved to be a handsome woman when they got into thelight, with the same short face and wide eyes as her brother. Stella and she made immediate friends, and before they parted totry and sleep the princess said:

"Stella, that my brother loves you proves that you must be a verydear girl, that is what made me come from Paris at hisinstantaneous bidding. He is the most splendid character in theworld, only don't cross his wishes. You will find it is no use, for one thing, " and she laughed her deep laugh. "He always knowsbest. "

"I am sure he does, " said Stella shyly. "I felt that at once, andso I did not hesitate. "

Next morning, when the three were seated at a merry earlybreakfast in the sitting-room discussing what should be said inStella's letter to her Aunt Caroline, a loud knock came to thedoor, and, without waiting for a response, Canon Ebley andStella's cousin, Mr. Deanwood, entered the room. 

The princess rose with dignity, draping her silk morning wrapperround her like a statue, and Stella stepped forward withoutstretched hand. 

"Oh, Uncle Erasmus, " she said gaily, before any of the party couldspeak, "I am so glad to see you. I was just going to write to AuntCaroline to tell her where I am, quite safe, in case she wasworried about me. Let me introduce you to my future sister-in-law, Princess Urazov, with whom I am staying. My fiance, CountRoumovski, you have met before. "

Afterwards she often wondered how this emancipated spirit ofdaring had ever come to her. But she felt so joyous, so full oflove and happiness, that it seemed that she could not be afraid orannoyed with anyone in the world. 

"Stella, you are a shameless girl, " Canon Ebley retorted in ahorrified voice. "I refuse to admit that you are engaged to thisgentleman. Your whole conduct has been a scandalous series ofdeceptions and you must be ready to return at once with your auntand your affianced husband. They are following us here now. "

Then Stella used a weapon that she had more than once foundeffectual with her uncle. She flung herself into his arms andclasped him round the neck. He was a short, portly man, and fromthis position she began to cajole him--while Count Roumovskilooked on with amused calm, and his sister, following his lead, remained unmoved also. 

Mr. Deanwood was the only restless person; he felt thoroughlyuncomfortable and bored to death. He hated having been draggedinto this family quarrel, and secretly sympathized with his cousinin her revolt at the thought of being Eustace Medlicott's wife. 

"Oh, dear Uncle Erasmus!" Stella purred, from the highly perturbedclergyman's neck, where she was burrowing her sweet head, rubbingher peach-like cheek against his whiskered cheek. "Don't say thosedreadful things, I have not deceived anybody, I have known CountRoumovski since the day after we came to Rome, and--and--I lovehim very much, and you know I always thought Eustace a bore, andyou must agree it is wicked to marry and not to love, so it mustbe good to, oh!--well, to marry the person you do love. What haveyou to say against it?"

Canon Ebley tried to unclasp her arms from round his neck. He wasterribly upset. To be sure, the girl was very dear to him, and hadalways been so sweet a niece, a truthful, obedient child fromearly infancy. Caroline had perhaps been a little hard--he hadbetter hear the facts. 

"Dear me, dear me, " he blurted out. "Well, well, tell meeverything about the case, and, though I cannot consent toanything, I must do you the justice of hearing your side. "

"Won't you sit down here, sir?" Princess Urazov said, "and let mybrother and your niece tell you their story. Mr. Deanwood, we metat Buda-Pesth two years ago--" and she turned to the young man andindicated that he should join her in the far window embrasure, which he did with alacrity, and from there they heard, interpolated in their personal conversation, scraps of thearguments going on between the three. 

Stella, assisted by her lover, told of her first talk and herdrive, and their rapidly ripening affection for each other, andthe girl looked so happy and so pleading. Then Count Roumovskitook up the thread. He explained his position, and how his view oflife had always been direct in its endeavor to see the truth andthe meaning of things, and how to him love was the only possiblereason in ethical morality for any marriage between two people. 

"It is merely a great degradation, otherwise, sir, " he saidearnestly. 

But here Canon Ebley was heard to protest that he could notunderstand a love which had sprung into being with such violencein the space of three days, and he felt very suspicious of itsdurability. 

"Oh, Uncle Erasmus, how can you say that!" Stella interrupted him. "Why, you have often said that you yourself fell in love with AuntCaroline from the moment your eye lighted upon her in church--inchurch, remember, you old darling!" and she nestled up against hisshoulder again. Caresses like these she was always obliged tosuppress in her austere aunt's presence; they were only to beindulged in upon great occasions, and to gain an important end, she knew! So the rogue smiled archly as she went on. "You couldhardly wait until you were introduced at the garden party the nextday, and Aunt Caroline said you proposed to her before the end ofthe week!"

"Come, come, " the cornered uncle growled, bridling, but a smilegrew in his kindly eyes. 

"There!" exclaimed Miss Rawson, triumphantly. "You cannot haveanother thing to say, except that you consent and wish ushappiness. "

"It is true you are of age, Stella, " Canon Ebley allowed, "and ifyou like to take the law into your own hands, we cannot legallyprevent you, as I have tried to explain this morning to your auntand Eustace, but it is all very shocking and unusual, and verydisturbing. You must remember, Count Roumovski is a foreigner, and we English people are prejudiced. I--fear for your happiness, my dear child!"

"You do not pay me a high compliment, sir, " Count Roumovski said, but without resentment. "Time, however, will prove whether I cantake care of your niece or no. Do you feel any fear for yourself, Stella?"

"Not in the least, " Miss Rawson said, and they clasped fond hands. "I would go away with you, Sasha, to the ends of the earth now atonce, and never ask you a single question. And I should certainlydie if I were forced to go back to Eustace Medlicott. "

"Then I suppose there is nothing more to be said, " Canon Ebleystammered, upon which Stella again flung herself into his arms. 

"Indeed, sir--I give you my word that you will not regret thisdecision, " Count Roumovski said gravely. "I believe your niece andI were made for one another. "

"We will hope so, " returned Canon Ebley, who could no longer keepup a stern resistance in the face of perfectly logical argumentsand a witch of a girl purring over him and patting his cheek. Hewould have given in with a fair grace but for the awful knowledgethat his stern spouse and the irate late fiance would arrive atany moment, and reproach him for his want of strength. 

At this juncture of the affair, Princess Urazov came forward, andsaid with a gracious smile:

"Now I think you and I should agree with each other, sir; I hadjust as great cause for surprise as you had at the news of mybrother's engagement to your niece, but I know and love him sowell that I did not question the wisdom of his choice. And as youknow and love your niece, can we not agree to try and make themhappy together by giving them our blessing? After all, it is nocrime for two young people to love each other!" and she put outher hands, which Canon Ebley, who was, after all, longing forpeace, was obliged to take. Then with a charm and dignity that hewas forced to admire, she drew him to the pair and placed his handon their clasped hands, and her own over it. 

"See, " she said, "Sasha and Stella, we both wish you all happinessand joy--is it not so?"

And Canon Ebley was constrained to murmur, "Yes. "

At this instant the door was opened violently, and the AuntCaroline followed by the Reverend Eustace Medlicott burst into theroom, brushing aside the frightened waiter, who would haveprevented them; then they stopped dead short, petrified withastonishment, and before she could prevent herself, Stella hadpealed a silvery laugh, while she rushed forward andaffectionately kissed her aunt. 

"Dear Aunt Caroline, " she said. "Uncle Erasmus understands quite, and has given us his blessing, so won't you, too?"

But Mrs. Ebley was made of sterner stuff--she was horriblyshocked, her feelings had been bruised in their tenderest parts, the laws of convention had been ruthlessly broken by her niece, and forgiveness was not for her. 

She drew herself up with disgusted hauteur, while the Rev. Mr. Medlicott stood there glaring at the party too speechless withhumiliation and pain to utter a word. 

"Erasmus, " Mrs. Ebley said with scathing contempt. "I do not knowhow you have let yourself countenance this disgraceful scene, butI shall not do so. And if my niece still persists in bringingshame upon us all I must beg you to conduct me back to our hotel--I wash my hands of her and shall no longer own her as my sister'schild, come"

At this, Stella gave a pitiful little cry and turned tender, beseeching eyes to her lover, and the sound of her voice touchedthat chord which was fine in Eustace Medlicott's heart. He seemedsuddenly to see things as they were, and to realize that love hadindeed come to his betrothed, though not for him, so he rose abovethe pain this conviction caused him and let justice have sway. 

He strode forward and joined the group. 

"You must not say that, Mrs. Ebley, " he said, "since your husbandseems satisfied, there must have been some proper explanationmade. You should hear them first. But I, for my part, wish tostate now, in the presence of everyone, that if Miss Rawson canassure me she has made this choice of her own free will, andbecause she loves this gentleman--" here there was a break in thetones--"I can have nothing further to say and will give her backher freedom and make my retreat. "

"Oh, Eustace, thank you, " said Stella, gratefully holding out herhand. "I knew I could eventually count upon your goodness. I doindeed love Count Roumovski, and why should not we all be happytogether? You will feel with me, I am sure, that our engagementwas always a mistake and now won't you be friends?"

She still held out her timid hand, and Mr. Medlicott took it atlast and wringing it silently turned and drew toward the door, making his exit. 

Silence fell upon the company until he had gone and then CountRoumovski whispered in his harassed little fiancee's ear:

"Never mind his point of view, darling--yonder goes an Englishgentleman, and since I have gained my star and he has lost his, hehas my deepest sympathy. "

Then everyone seemed to talk at once, and the Princess Urazov atlast appeared to be in some degree appeasing Mrs. Ebley. 

There is very little more to tell of this comedy of a springholiday in Rome. It ended with a quiet wedding and two youngpeople going off together in the blue automobile. 

And when Count Roumovski clasped his newly made bride in his arms, he whispered with a tenderly sly smile:

"At last, sweetheart, there are no barriers, and I can show youthat I am at least not as cold as ice!"

THE END