r passionately on lips, throat and brow--and that in the
fervor of my embraces, the thought of what manner of vile thing she was
came swiftly upon me, causing me to release her with such suddenness
that she caught at the back of a chair to save herself from falling.
Her breath came and went in little quick gasps of excitement, her face
was flushed--she looked astonished, yet certainly not displeased. No,
SHE was not angry, but I was--thoroughly annoyed--bitterly vexed with
myself, for being such a fool.

"Forgive me," I muttered. "I forgot--I--"

A little smile stole round the corners of her mouth.

"You are fully pardoned!" she said, in a low voice, "you need not
apologize."

Her smile deepened; suddenly she broke into a rippling laugh, sweet and
silvery as a bell--a laugh that went through me like a knife. Was it
not the self-same laughter that had pierced my brain the night I
witnessed her amorous interview with Guido in the avenue? Had not the
cruel mockery of it nearly driven me mad? I could not endure it--I
sprung to her side--she ceased laughing and looked at me in wide-eyed
wonderment.

"Listen!" I said, in an impatient, almost fierce tone. "Do not laugh
like that! It jars my nerves--it--hurts me! I will tell you why.
Once--long ago--in my youth--I loved a woman. She was NOT like
you--no--for she was false! False to the very heart's core--false in
every word she uttered. You understand me? she resembled you in
nothing--nothing! But she used to laugh at me--she trampled on my life
and spoiled it--she broke my heart! It is all past now, I never think
of her, only your laughter reminded me--there!" And I took her hands
and kissed them. "I have told you the story of my early folly--forget
it and forgive me! It is time you prepared for your journey, is it not?
If I can be of service to you, command me--you know where to send for
me. Good-bye! and the peace of a pure conscience be with you!"

And I laid my burning hand on her head weighted with its clustering
curls of gold. SHE thought this gesture was one of blessing. _I_
thought--God only knows what I thought--yet surely if curses can be so
bestowed, my curse crowned her at that moment! I dared not trust myself
longer in her presence, and without another word or look I left her and
hurried from the house. I knew she was startled and at the same time
gratified to think she could thus have moved me to any display of
emotion--but I would not even turn my head to