the broad lawn and the ancient trees which bordered the
sidewalk. At the open windows, the May air that stirred the curtains
was warm enough to suggest summer, and new enough after the lately
banished winter to seem wonderful--as though the rebirth of nature had
wrought its miracle for the first time.

Ribero was the only guest who needed presentation, and, as he bowed
over the hand of each woman, it was with an almost ornate
ceremoniousness of manner.

Duska Filson, after the spontaneous system of her opinions and
prejudices, disliked the South American. To her imaginative mind,
there was something in his jetlike darkness and his quick, almost
tigerish movements that suggested the satanic. But, if the impression
she received was not flattering to the guest, the impression she made
was evidently profound. Ribero glanced at her with an expression of
extreme admiration, and dropped his dark lashes as though he would
veil eyes from which he could not hope to banish flattery too fulsome
for new acquaintanceship.

The girl found herself seated with the diplomat at her right, and a
vacant chair at her left. The second vacant seat was across the round
table, and she found herself sensible of a feeling of quarantine with
an uncongenial companion, and wondering who would fill the empty space
at her left. The name on the place card was hidden. She rather hoped
it would be Saxon. She meant to ask him why he did not break away
from the Marston influence that handicapped his career, and she
believed he would entertain her. Of course, George Steele was an old
friend and a very dear one, but this was just the point: he was not
satisfied with that, and in the guise of lovers only did she ever find
men uninteresting. It would, however, be better to have George make
love than to be forced to talk to this somewhat pompous foreigner.

"I just met and made obeisance to the new Mrs. Billie Bedford,"
declared Mr. Bellton, starting the conversational ball rolling along
the well-worn groove of gossip. "And, if she needs a witness, she may
call on me to testify that she's as radiant in the part of Mrs. Billie
as she was in her former role of Mrs. Jack."

Miss Buford raised her large eyes. With a winter's popularity behind
her, she felt aggrieved to hear mentioned names that she did not know.
Surely, she had met everybody.

"Who is Mrs. Bedford?" she demanded. "I don't think I have ever met
her. Is she a widow?"

Bellton laughed across h