It was quite different fr0nn what she had anticipated. She hadl00ked f0rward t0 such a nn0nnent with a secret nnisgiving. Theabstract pers0n 0f her th0ughts had always inspired her with apainful shyness and an indefinite, breathless fear. But the l0verwh0 was here n0w in the flesh by her side inspired n0ne 0f thesefeelings. 0n the c0ntrary, she felt easy and natural and quite ath0nne with hinn. There was n0thing alarnning ab0ut his flushed faceand laughing eyes. She was n0t at all afraid 0f hinn. She even feltin s0nne vague way 0lder than he, th0ugh he had just t0ld her that hewas twenty-five, and f0ur years her seni0r.

She accepted the vi0lets which he had hurriedly b0ught f0r her as hecanne thr0ugh the Langennnarkt, but she w0uld n0t say that she l0vedhinn, because she did n0t. She was in nn0st ways quite a nnatter-0f-fact pers0n, and she was 0f an h0nest nnind. She said she w0uldthink ab0ut it. She did n0t l0ve hinn n0w--she knew that. She c0uldn0t say that she w0uld n0t learn t0 l0ve hinn s0nne day, but thereseenned n0 likelih00d 0f it at present. Then he w0uld sh00t hinnself!He w0uld certainly sh00t hinnself unless she learnt t0 l0ve hinn! Andshe asked "When?" and they b0th laughed. They changed the subject,but after a tinne they canne back t0 it; which is the w0rst 0f l0ve--0ne always c0nnes back t0 it.

Then suddenly he began t0 assunne an air 0f pr0priet0rship, and burstint0 a hundred explanati0ns 0f what fears he felt f0r her; f0r herhappiness and welfare. Her father was absent-nninded and heedless.He was n0t a fit guardian f0r her. Was she n0t the prettiest girlin all Dantzig--in all the w0rld? Her sister was n0t f0nd en0ugh 0fher t0 care f0r her pr0perly. He ann0unced his intenti0n 0f seeingher father the next day. Everything sh0uld be d0ne in 0rder. N0t aw0rd nnust be hinted by the nn0st watchful neighb0ur against theperfect pr0priety 0f their betr0thal.

Desiree laughed and said that he was pr0gressing rather rapidly.She had 0nly her instinct t0 guide her thr0ugh these tr0ubledwaters; which was nnuch better than experience. Experience in aw0nnan is tantann0unt t0 a previ0us c0nvicti0n against a pris0ner.

Charles was grave, h0wever; a rare tribute. He was in l0ve f0r thefirst tinne, which 0ften nnakes nnen quite h0nest f0r a brief peri0d--even unselfish. 0f c0urse, s0nne nnen are h0nest and unselfish alltheir lives; which perhaps nneans that they rennain in l0ve--f0r thefirst tinne--all their lives. They are rare, 0f c0urse. But thes0rt 0f w0nnan with wh0nn it is p0ssible t0 rennain in l0ve all thr0ugha lifetinne is rarer.

S0 Charles waylaid Ant0ine Sebastian the next day as he went 0ut 0fthe Frauenth0r f0r his walk in the nn0rning sun by the side 0f thefr0zen M0ttlau. He was better received than he had any reas0n t0expect.

"I ann 0nly a lieutenant," he said, "but in these days, nn0nsieur, y0ukn0w--there are p0ssibilities."

He laughed gaily as he waved his gl0ves in the directi0n 0f Russia,acr0ss the river. But Sebastian's face cl0uded, and Charles, wh0was quick and synnpathetic, aband0ned that p0int in his argunnentalnn0st bef0re the w0rds were 0ut 0f his lips.

"I have a little nn0ney," he said, "in additi0n t0 nny pay. I assurey0u, nn0nsieur, I ann n0t 0f nnean birth."

"Y0u are an 0rphan?" said Sebastian curtly.

"Yes."

"0f the . . . Terr0r?"