No fault could be found with the perfect oval of her face, her delicate white-rose skin, her small seductive mouth, curved in the approved line of the "Cupid's bow," her deep, soft, bright eyes, fringed with long-lashes a shade darker than the curling waves of her abundant brown hair.

But her features in childhood had expressed something more than the beauty which had developed with the passing of years.

A sweet affection, a tender earnestness, and an almost heavenly candour had made the attractiveness of her earlier age quite irresistible, but now--or so Helmsley fancied--that fine and subtle charm had gone.

He was half ashamed of himself for allowing this thought to enter his mind, and quickly dismissing it, he said-- "How did your presentation go off last night?
Was it a full Court ?" "I believe so," she replied listlessly, unfurling a painted fan and waving it idly to and fro--"I cannot say that I found it very interesting.

The whole thing bored me dreadfully." He smiled.
"Bored you! Is it possible to be bored at twenty-one ?" "I think every one, young or old, is bored more or less nowadays," she said.