He sprang to his feet, and, bare-headed, hastened to meet her and give her his hand to ascend the steps.

She was dressed in black, and her lace mantilla, worn in Spanish fashion, half-shrouded her face, which was paler and even more worn than when he had first seen it.
"I hope your Excellency has quite recovered ?" he said, as he led her to a chair and set a cushion for her feet; and he performed the little act with a courtesy which was as genuine as strange in Derrick, who, like most men of his class, was not given to knightly attentions; but, every time he had seen this proud and sorrowful woman, some tender chord had been touched in his heart and given forth a note of pity and respect.

"I can't blame myself enough for not keeping an eye on that lamp.

I hope you were not burned ?" "No, it was nothing," she said in a low voice, her eyes covered by their lids, her lips set.

"It was the shock, nothing more.