It comforts me to think that his prophecy, though more than once within an ace of the most ample fulfillment, yet in the end was set at naught by the events which followed.
Gustave rolled down the hill, the duchess sighed relief.
"Now," said she, "we can enjoy ourselves fora few hours, Mr.Aycon.

And after that--solitude!" I was really very sorry for the duchess.

Evidently society and gayety were necessary as food and air to her, and her churl of a husband denied them.
My opportunity was short, but I laid myself out to make the most of it.

I could give her nothing more than a pleasant memory, but I determined to do that.
We spent the greater part of the day in a ramble through the woods that lined the slopes of the hill behind the house; and all through the hours the duchess chatted about herself, her life, her family--and then about the duke.

If the hints she gave were to be trusted, her husband deserved little consideration at her hands, and, at the worst, the plea of reprisal might offer some excuse for her, if she had need of one.