I was soured, and my life had hardly been such a life as it was meet to bring into contact with your own.

Then, among the roses at Lavedan, in your dear company, Roxalanne, it seemed that some of the good, some of the sweetness, some of the purity about you were infused anew into my heart.

I became young again, and I seemed oddly cleansed.

In that hour of my rejuvenation I loved you, Roxalanne." Her face had been raised to mine as I spoke.

There came now a flutter of the eyelids, a curious smile about the lips.