Whenever I see
a man with long hair and dreamy eyes, I know he is a German."

"You are unjust," said Beatrice, as she left him to join Lillian.

"You are jealous," said Lionel, who had overheard the conversation.
"Look out for a rival in the lists, my lord."

"I wish this tiresome ball were over," sighed Lord Airlie. "I shall
have no chance of speaking while it is on the tapis."

But he soon forgot his chagrin. The formidable Gaspar appeared that
very morning, and, although Lord Airlie could perceive that he was at
once smitten with Beatrice's charms, he also saw that she paid no heed
whatever to the new-comer; indeed, after a few words of courteous
greeting, she returned to the point under discussion--what flowers
would look best in the ball room.

"If we have flowers at all," she said, imperiously, "let them be a
gorgeous mass of bloom--something worth looking at; not a few pale
blossoms standing here and there like 'white sentinels'; let us have
flowers full of life and fragrance. Lillian, you know what I mean; you
remember Lady Manton's flowers--tier after tier of magnificent color."

"You like to do everything en reine, Beatrice," said Lady Helena, with
a well-pleased smile.

"If you have not flowers sufficient, Miss Earle," said Lord Airlie, "I
will send to Lynnton. My gardener considers himself a past master of
his art."

"My dear Lord Airlie," said Lady Earle, "we have flowers in profusion.
You have not been through the conservatories. It would while away the
morning pleasantly for you all. Beatrice, select what flowers you
will, and have them arranged as you like."

"See," said the triumphant beauty, "what a grand thing a strong will
is! Imagine papa's saying he thought thirty or forty plants in full
flower would be sufficient! We will surprise him. If the gardener
loses his reason, as Lady Earle seems to think probable, he must be
taken care of."

Lord Airlie loved Beatrice best in such moods; imperious and piquant,
melting suddenly into little gleams of tenderness, then taking refuge
in icy coldness and sunny laughter. Beautiful, dazzling, capricious,
changing almost every minute, yet charming as she changed, he would not
have bartered one of her proudest smiles or least words for anything on
earth.

He never forgot that morning spent among the flowers. It was a glimpse
of elysium to him. The way in which Beatrice contrived to do as she
liked amused him; her face looked fairer than ev