ce, "that you regard me with sentiments of something more
than esteem.--Is this so?"

The girl had stepped quickly back, and her face was scarlet.

"Nay," he said, having to go through with it now, "there is no cause for
embarrassment. And I am sure you will acquit me of wanton curiosity. Is
it a fact that you--love me?"

She tried to speak, could not. But she nodded her head.

The Duke, much relieved, came nearer to her.

"What is your name?" he asked gently.

"Katie," she was able to gasp.

"Well, Katie, how long have you loved me?"

"Ever since," she faltered, "ever since you came to engage the rooms."

"You are not, of course, given to idolising any tenant of your
mother's?"

"No."

"May I boast myself the first possessor of your heart?"

"Yes." She had become very pale now, and was trembling painfully.

"And may I assume that your love for me has been entirely
disinterested?... You do not catch my meaning? I will put my question in
another way. In loving me, you never supposed me likely to return your
love?"

The girl looked up at him quickly, but at once her eyelids fluttered
down again.

"Come, come!" said the Duke. "My question is a plain one. Did you ever
for an instant suppose, Katie, that I might come to love you?"

"No," she said in a whisper; "I never dared to hope that."

"Precisely," said he. "You never imagined that you had anything to
gain by your affection. You were not contriving a trap for me. You were
upheld by no hope of becoming a young Duchess, with more frocks than
you could wear and more dross than you could scatter. I am glad. I
am touched. You are the first woman that has loved me in that way. Or
rather," he muttered, "the first but one. And she... Answer me," he
said, standing over the girl, and speaking with a great intensity. "If I
were to tell you that I loved you, would you cease to love me?"

"Oh your Grace!" cried the girl. "Why no! I never dared--"

"Enough!" he said. "The catechism is ended. I have something which I
should like to give you. Are your ears pierced?"

"Yes, your Grace."

"Then, Katie, honour me by accepting this present." So saying, he placed
in the girl's hand the black pearl and the pink. The sight of them
banished for a moment all other emotions in their recipient. She forgot
herself. "Lor!" she said.

"I hope you will wear them always for my sake," said the Duke.

She had expressed herself in the monosyllable. No words came to her
lips,