Ericson came in. The piece was in movement again. Helena
kept her eyes fixed on Miss Paulo's box. She was puzzled about Hamilton.
She had very little prejudice of caste or class, and yet she could not
readily admit into her mind the possibility of a man of her own social
rank who had actually wanted to marry _her_, making love soon after to
the daughter of an hotel-keeper. But why should she fancy that Hamilton
was making love to Miss Paulo? He was very attentive to her, certainly,
and did not seem willing to leave her box; but was not that probably
part of the chivalry of his nature--and the chivalry of his training
under the Dictator--to pay especial attention to a girl of low degree?
The Dictator, she thought to herself with a certain pride in him and for
him, had not left his box to go to see anyone but Miss Paulo.

When the curtain fell for the next time, Sir Rupert went round in his
stately way to the box where Dolores and her father and Hamilton were
sitting. Then Helena seized her opportunity, and suddenly said to
Ericson:

'I want you to tell me all about Miss Paulo. Dolores--what a pretty
name!'

'She is a very clever girl,' he began.

'But not, I hope, a superior person? Not a woman to be afraid of?'

'No, no; not in the least.'

'Does Mr. Hamilton see much of her?' Helena had now grown saucy again,
and looked the Dictator full in the face, with the look of one who means
to say: 'You and I know something of what happened before _that_.'

Ericson smiled, a grave smile.

'He has to see her now and again,' he said.

'Has to see her? Perhaps he likes to see her.'

'I am sure I hope he does. He must be rather lonely.'

'Are men ever lonely?'

'Very lonely sometimes.'

'But not as women are lonely. Men can always find companionship. Do look
at Mr. Hamilton--how happy _he_ seems!'

'Hamilton's love for _you_ was deep and sincere,' the Dictator said,
with an almost frowning earnestness.

'And now behold,' she replied, with sparkling and defiant eyes. 'See!
Look there!'

Then Sir Rupert came back to the box and the discussion was brought to
an end.

Hamilton came into the box and paid a formal visit, and said a few
formal words. The curtain fell upon the last act, and Sir Rupert's
carriage whirled his daughter away. Helena sat up late in her bedroom
that night. She was finding out more and more with every day, every
incident, that the conditions of life were becoming revolutionised for
her. She