I will give you all the devotion of true
friendship--and, who knows, perhaps we shall find the Indian summer,
after all, now that the gates of my fool's paradise are shut."

In the abstract, it was not highly gratifying to a woman's vanity, this
declaration! but, as a matter of fact, it was beyond Moravia's wildest
hopes. She had not a single doubt in her astute American mind that, once
she should have the right to the society of Henry--with her knowledge of
the ways of man--that she would soon be able to obliterate all regrets
for Sabine, and draw his affections completely to herself.

At this juncture, she showed a stroke of genius.

"Henry," she said, her voice vibrating with profound feeling, "I do want
you--more than anything I have ever wanted in my life--and I will make
you forget all your hurts--in my arms."

There was certainly nothing left for Lord Fordyce, being a gallant
gentleman, to do but to stoop his tall head and kiss her--and, to his
surprise, he found this duty turn into a pleasure--so that, in a few
moments, when they were close together looking out upon the waves
through the pavilion's wide windows, he encircled her with his arm--and
then he burst into a laugh, but though it was cynical, it contained no
bitterness.

"Moravia--you are a witch," he told her. "Here is a situation that,
described, would read like pathos--and yet it has made us both happy.
Half an hour ago, I was wishing I might step over into that foam--and
now----"

"And now?" demanded the Princess, standing from him.

"And now I realize that, with the New Year, there may dawn new joys for
me. Oh! my dear, if you will be content with what I can give you, let us
be married soon and go to India for the rest of the winter."

* * * * *

The Pere Anselme noticed that his only congregation from the Chateau
consisted of Mr. Cloudwater and Madame Imogen; and he thanked the good
God--as he sent up a fervent prayer for the absentees' happiness.

"It means that they two are near heaven, and that consolation will come
to the disconsolate one, since all four remain at home," he told
himself. This was a denouement worthy of Christmas Day, and of far more
value in his eyes than the two pairs' mere presence in his church.

"The ways of the good God are marvellous," he mused, as he went to his
vestry, "and it is fitting that youth should find its mate. We grieve
and wring our hearts--and nothing is final--and