I cannot help saying, however, that it is essential to my happiness that the present state of affairs should soon cease." "If it were only present happiness that one had to consider--" she began, and then hastened away.
Thus she played upon his sympathy, and held him by the generous side of his nature.
But he determined not to give Arnault the pleasure of seeing him wait for the crumbs of time that fell from his table, and he delighted Madge, having sought her out on the piazza, by remarking: "It is so cool to-day I do not see why we cannot start at once.

I shall not find the time too long, for you can talk as well as ride." She made good his words, and gave wings to the hours.

Among the scenes through which they passed, she reminded him, not of an exotic or a stray tropical bird, but rather of the ideal mountain nymph humanized, developed into modern life, the strong original forces of nature harmonized into perfect womanhood, yet unimpaired.

Her smiles, her piquant words, and, above all, the changing expression of her lovely eyes, affected him subtilely, and again imparted a rising exhilaration.

Her thoughts came not like the emptying of a cup, but rippled forth like a sparkling rill from some deep and exhaustless supply.