e leaned towards him. His face was full of wonder--wonder, and the
coming joy.

"Berenice!" he exclaimed.

She let herself drift down the surging tide of this suddenly awakened
passion. She held out her arms and pressed her lips on his as he caught
her.

* * * * *

Presently she pushed him gently away--held him there at arm's length.

"This is too absurd," she murmured, and drew him once more towards her
with a choking little laugh. "I came for something quite different!"

"What does it matter what you came for, so long as you stay," he
answered. "Say that you came to bring a glimpse of paradise to a lonely
man!"

She disengaged herself, and her long white fingers strayed mechanically
to her tumbled hair. The elegant precision of her toilette had given
place to a most distracting disarray. She felt her cheeks burning still,
and the lace at her bosom was all crushed.

"And I was on my way to a dinner party," she whispered, with humorously
uplifted eyebrows. "I must drive back home, and--and--"

"And what?" he demanded.

"And send an excuse," she declared, demurely. "I am not equal to a family
dinner party."

"And afterwards?"

She smiled.

"Would you like," she asked, "to take me out to dinner?"

"Would I like!"

"Go and change, and call for me in half an hour. We can go somewhere
where we are not likely to be seen," she said, softly. "I must cover
myself up in my cloak. Whatever will Perkins say? Please remember that
I have no hat."

He held her hands and looked into her eyes.

"Don't go for one moment," he pleaded. "I want to realize it. I want to
feel sure of you."

The gravity of his manner was for a moment reflected in her tone.

"I think," she said, "that you may feel sure. There are things which we
may have to say to one another--presently--but--"

He stooped and kissed her fingers.

CHAPTER VI

THE CONSCIENCE OF A STATESMAN

He was shown into her own little boudoir by a smiling maid-servant, who
seemed already to treat him with an especial consideration. The wonder of
this thing was still lying like a thrall upon him, and yet he knew that
the joy of life was burning once more in his veins. He caught sight of
himself in a mirror, and he was amazed. The careworn look had gone from
his eyes, the sallowness from his complexion. His step was elastic, he
felt the firm, quick beat of his heart, even his pulses seem to throb to
a new and a wonderful t