ge, a
graceful, boyish figure in scarlet and white wool moved swiftly over the
drifts with all the naive delight of a child with a brand new toy.

As Darragh strode out into the open the distant figure flung up one arm
in salutation and came racing over the drifts, her brilliant scarf
flying.

All aglow and a trifle breathless, she met Darragh just beyond the
veranda, rested one mitten hand on his shoulder while he knelt and
unbuckled her snow-shoes, stepped lightly from them and came forward to
Eve with out-stretched hand and sudden winning gravity in her lovely
face.

"We shall be friends, surely," she said in her quick, winning voice; --
"because my husband has told me -- and I am so grieved for you -- and I
need a girl friend----"

Holding both Eve's hands, her mittens dangling from her wrist, she
looked into her eyes very steadily.

Slowly Eve's eyes filled; more slowly still Ricca kissed her on both
cheeks, framed her face in both hands, kissed her lightly on the lips.

Then, still holding Eve's hands, she turned and looked at Stormont.

"I remember you now," she said. "You were with my husband in Riga."

She freed her right hand and held it out to Stormont. He had the grace
to kiss it an did it very well for a Yankee.

Together they entered the kitchen door and turned into the dining room
on the left, where were chairs around the plain pine table.

Darragh said: "The new mistress of Harrod Place has selected your
quarters, Eve. They adjoin the quarters of her friend, the Countess
Orloff-Strelwitz."

"Valentine begged me," said Ricca, smiling. "She is going to be lonely
without me. All hours of day and night we were trotting into one
another's rooms----" She looked gravely at Eve: "You will like
Valentine; and she will like you very much. ... As for me -- I already
love you."

She put one arm around Eve's shoulders: "How could you even think of
remaining here all alone? Why, I should never close my eyes for
thinking of you, dear."

Eve's head drooped; she said in a stifled voice: "I'll go with you. ...
I want to. ... I'm very -- tired."

"We had better go now," said Darragh. "Your things can be brought over
later. If you'll dress for snow-shoeing, Jack can pack what clothes you
need. ... Are there snow-shoes for him, too?"

Eve turned tragically to her lover: "In Dad's closet----" she said,
choking; then turned and went up the stairs, still clinging to Ricca's
hand and drawing her with