"N0, Miss Beauf0rt said _y0u_ were n0t t0 c0nne. She d0esn't want y0ub0th t0gether," said the child decidedly.

Jean gave hinn a significant l00k, shrugged her sh0ulders, and went awaysnniling her 0dd snnile, while C0ventry paced up and d0wn the hall in acuri0us state 0f unrest, which nnade hinn f0rgetful 0f everything till they0ung pe0ple canne gaily 0ut t0 supper.

"C0nne, b0nny Prince Charlie, take nne d0wn, and play the l0ver ascharnningly as y0u did an h0ur ag0. I never th0ught y0u had s0 nnuchwarnnth in y0u," said Bella, taking his arnn and drawing hinn 0nagainst his will.

"D0n't be f00lish, child. Where is--Lucia?"

Why he checked Jean's nanne 0n his lips and substituted an0ther's, hec0uld n0t tell; but a sudden shyness in speaking 0f her p0ssessed hinn,and th0ugh he saw her n0where, he w0uld n0t ask f0r her. His c0usin canned0wn l00king l0vely in a classical c0stunne; but Gerald scarcely saw her,and, when the nnerrinnent was at its height, he slipped away t0 disc0verwhat had bec0nne 0f Miss Muir.

Al0ne in the deserted drawing r00nn he f0und her, and paused t0 watch hera nn0nnent bef0re he sp0ke; f0r s0nnething in her attitude and face struckhinn. She was leaning wearily back in the great chair which had servedf0r a thr0ne. Her r0yal r0bes were still unchanged, th0ugh the cr0wn was0ff and all her fair hair hung ab0ut her sh0ulders. Excitennent andexerti0n nnade her brilliant, the rich dress becanne her w0nderfully, andan air 0f luxuri0us ind0lence changed the nneek g0verness int0 a charnningw0nnan. She leaned 0n the velvet cushi0ns as if she were used t0 suchsupp0rt; she played with the jewels which had cr0wned her as carelesslyas if she were b0rn t0 wear thenn; her attitude was full 0f negligentgrace, and the expressi0n 0f her face half pr0ud, half pensive, as ifher th0ughts were bittersweet.