hands into
her muff. "That means nothing. Forgiveness is between equals, and you
don't regard me as your equal."

"Really, I don't understand!"

Christina rose and moved for a moment about the room. Then turning
suddenly, "You don't believe in me!" she cried; "not a grain! I don't
know what I would not give to force you to believe in me!"

Rowland sprang up, protesting, but before he had time to go far one of
the scanty portieres was raised, and Madame Grandoni came in, pulling
her wig straight. "But you shall believe in me yet," murmured Christina,
as she passed toward her hostess.

Madame Grandoni turned tenderly to Christina. "I must give you a very
solemn kiss, my dear; you are the heroine of the hour. You have really
accepted him, eh?"

"So they say!"

"But you ought to know best."

"I don't know--I don't care!" She stood with her hand in Madame
Grandoni's, but looking askance at Rowland.

"That 's a pretty state of mind," said the old lady, "for a young person
who is going to become a princess."

Christina shrugged her shoulders. "Every one expects me to go into
ecstacies over that! Could anything be more vulgar? They may chuckle by
themselves! Will you let me stay to dinner?"

"If you can dine on a risotto. But I imagine you are expected at home."

"You are right. Prince Casamassima dines there, en famille. But I 'm not
in his family, yet!"

"Do you know you are very wicked? I have half a mind not to keep you."

Christina dropped her eyes, reflectively. "I beg you will let me stay,"
she said. "If you wish to cure me of my wickedness you must be very
patient and kind with me. It will be worth the trouble. You must
show confidence in me." And she gave another glance at Rowland. Then
suddenly, in a different tone, "I don't know what I 'm saying!" she
cried. "I am weary, I am more lonely than ever, I wish I were dead!" The
tears rose to her eyes, she struggled with them an instant, and buried
her face in her muff; but at last she burst into uncontrollable sobs
and flung her arms upon Madame Grandoni's neck. This shrewd woman gave
Rowland a significant nod, and a little shrug, over the young girl's
beautiful bowed head, and then led Christina tenderly away into the
adjoining room. Rowland, left alone, stood there for an instant,
intolerably puzzled, face to face with Miss Light's poodle, who had set
up a sharp, unearthly cry of sympathy with his mistress. Rowland
vented his confusion in dealing a rap