added, "More than you do me?"

Flavia pressed her father's hand between both her palms and answered
with a musical laugh, "How silly you are, papa! Why, of course I love
you. Are you not my father? I love you too because you are kind and
do all I wish, and because you are always telling me that you love me.
Because you are like the cupids in the fairy stories--dear old people
who give their children all their heart's desire; I love you for my
carriage, my horses, and my lovely dresses; for my purse filled with
gold, for my beautiful jewelry, and for all the lovely presents you make
me."

Every word she spoke betrayed the utter selfishness of her soul, and yet
her father listened with a fixed smile of delight on his face.

"And why do you love him?" asked he.

"Because--because," stammered the girl, "first, because he is himself;
and then,--well, I can't say, but I _do_ love him."

Her accents betrayed such depth of passion that the father uttered a
groan of anguish.

Flavia caught the expression of his features, and burst into a fit of
laughter.

"I really believe that you are jealous," said she, as if she were
speaking to a spoiled child. "That is very naughty of you; you ought to
be ashamed of yourself. I tell you that the first time I set eyes upon
him at Van Klopen's, I felt a thrill of love pierce through my heart,
such love as I never felt for a human being before. Since then, I have
known no rest. I cannot sleep, and instead of blood, liquid fire seems
to come through my veins."

Martin Rigal raised his eyes to the ceiling in mute surprise at this
outburst of feeling.

"You do not understand me," went on Flavia. "You are the best of
fathers, but, after all, you are but a man. Had I a mother, she would
comprehend me better."

"What could your mother have done for you more than I? Have I neglected
anything for your happiness?" asked the banker, with a sigh.

"Perhaps nothing; for there are times when I hardly understand my own
feelings."

In gloomy silence the banker listened to the narrative of his daughter's
state of mind; then he said,--

"All shall be as you desire, and the man you love shall be your
husband."

The girl was almost beside herself with joy, and, throwing her arms
around his neck, pressed kiss upon kiss on his cheeks and forehead.

"Darling," said she, "I love you for this more than for anything that
you have given me in my life."

The banker sighed again; and Flavia, shakin