her heart that Spencer was only awaiting a
favorable opportunity to declare his love, and she did not strive to
repress the wave of divine happiness that flooded her heart at the
thought.

After much secret pondering and some shy confidences intrusted to Mrs.
de la Vere, she had resolved to tell him that if he left the Maloja at
once--an elastic phrase in lovers' language--and came to her in
London next month, she would have an answer ready. She persuaded
herself that there was no other honorable way out of an embarrassing
position. She had come to Switzerland for work, not for love making.
Spencer would probably wish to marry her forthwith, and that was not
to be thought of while "The Firefly's" commission was only half
completed. All of which modest and maidenly reasoning left wholly out
of account Spencer's strenuous wooing; it is chronicled here merely to
show her state of mind when she kissed Millicent farewell.

It is worthy of note also that two young people who might be expected
to take the liveliest interest in each other's company were steadfast
in their determination to separate. Each meant to send the other back
to England with the least possible delay, and both were eager to fly
into each other's arms--in London! Whereat the gods may have laughed,
or frowned, as the case may be, if they glanced at the horoscopes of
certain mortals pent within the mountain walls of the Upper Engadine.

While Helen was still gazing after Millicent's retreating carriage,
Bower came from the darksome foyer to the sunlit veranda. "So you
parted the best of friends?" he said quietly.

She turned and looked at him with shining eyes. "I cannot tell you how
pleased I am that a stupid misunderstanding should be cleared away!"
she said.

"Then I share your pleasure, though, to be candid, I was thinking
that a woman's kiss has infinite gradations. It may savor of Paradise
or the Dead Sea."

"But she told me how grieved she was that she had behaved so
foolishly, and appealed to me not to let the folly of a day break the
friendship of years."

"Ah! Millicent picks up some well turned sentiments on the stage. Come
out for a little stroll, and tell me all about it."

Helen hesitated. "It will soon be tea time," she said, with a self
conscious blush. She had promised Spencer to walk with him to the
chateau; but her visit to Millicent had intervened, and he was not on
the veranda at the moment.

"We need not go far. The sun has g