The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-03-30
LITERARY

the waiter said:
will you wait for the lady here. sir?"
someone else had, after all, discovered my little
room. l cursed him inwardly; outwardly 1 glared.
He was obviously a foreigner, too. Not even the
art OF a good London tailor had succeeded in turn
ing him into an Englishman.
He also looked annoyed, but as his ewes passed
from me to the wall behind me his face changed.
1t showed shocked dismay. l was conscious that
the Princess, too, was staring over my shoulder at
the same spot. Then l remembered that there was
a looking glass.
She colored, still staring, and said Mon dieu:"
under her breath.
He murmured, "Votre Altesse!' and stood there.
l looked at each in turn. Now that the blush
mad left her cheeks, she was paler than before.
She looked at me and her breath came rather
fast Then she sat up straight with an air OF COM
mand.
.vous nee m'attendre en- bas, Monsieur lie
Comte," she said, without turning round. 'Vous
m'accompagnerez, n'est-ce pas, chez moi"
Even through my surprise l got a thrill of ma.
licious joy over the lueful glance he cast round the
room as he turned to go.
WHEN he was safely round the first bend in the
staircase, l nodded seriously several times to
the girl opposite me. 1t was impossible to enter at
once into a different relationship.
Caught" said 1. The Princess and the swine
herd are caught together!"
She petulantly shook her shoulders and her lip
rembled.
"oh, don't talk any more of that nonsense!" An
instant after she repented. No, no-I didn't mean
that It's been lovely. And don't be afraid-I'm
not going to cry"
She got up and walked over to the mantlepiece,
where she pulled at a piece of magenta grass. l
left her alone to recover herself. / was still feel
ing curiously stupefed by the suddenness of it all.
After a minute or two she turnd round. | rose as
she came towards me.
do you want to know about me?"
NO." | said, mot now. It's too beautiful as it
is. 1t came out OF the mist, as it We're, and goes
back into the mist-two shining hours that we
have had"
She was smiling again.
yes, they have been nice-haven't they? You
can't possibly know how I've enjoyed Them
She was looking for her gloves. saw one on
the floor and picked it up for her. | found myself
letting her go without a protest. She was so sure
and was still bewildered.
You must tell ne who you are, though she
went on, as she pulled at them, so that shall
know where to find you. One day, perhaps, | shall
ASH you to come as you promised" told her.
Her eyes rested on me thoughtfuly for a moment.
Then she spoke again. 81 must tell you one thing,
-because-because don't want you to think too
badly OF me-" Her voice deliciously trembled. Its
this. You see don't get much of a time-Im al
just for once-Id go out to enjoy myself without
a dragon at my elbow. l told the bold bad magi-
Clan about it. and he asked me to come out to
lunch with him. don't like him-but it seemed
the only chance. That was why was meeting
him at Charing Cross. And that was why
She put up her hand to drop the veil over her
face, and hesitated. Then she put her hands ON
my shoulders.
This is probably the only really nice time I
shall ever have in my life" she said, and sighed
II shall always remember you. Thank you-thank
you very much" Her eyes shone a little wetly.
Her face was close. For one minute those ador-
able lips We're mine.
| could not DESTROY the charm of il with a word