in marriage.

"And let me here frankly state that when first I read of your great
deed--you are aware, of course, to what I refer--I felt I must
banish all thought of you from my heart. Let me explain my position,
I had just received news of the death of my uncle, Count Rosetra,
and that I had inherited his title and estates. It is a noble name,
and the estates are great. Could I confer these upon one who was
being so publicly discussed--the actor in so terrible a drama? I
owed more to society, and to my noble race, and to my country than I
had done before becoming a noble. But ah, my torn heart! O Miss
Asher, that heart was true to you through all, and has asserted
itself in a vehement way. I recognized your deed as noble; I thought
of your beauty and your intellect; of your attractive vivacity; of
your manner and bearing, all so fine; and I realized how you would
grace my title and my home; how you would help me to carry out the
great ambitions I have.

"Will you, lady, deign to accept my homage and my love? A favorable
answer will bring me to make my personal solicitations.

"Your most loving and faithful servant,

"CHRISTIAN DU BRANT.

"(Now Count Rosetra.)"

"What a bombastic mixture!" thought Olive, as she read this effusion. "I
wonder if there is any real love in it! If there is, it is so smothered
it is easily extinguished."

And she extinguished it; and thoughts of Count Rosetra troubled her no
more.

She did not show Dick this letter, but she thought it due to Mrs.
Easterfield to read it to her. "He has got it into his head that an
American woman, such as you, will make his house attractive to people he
wants there," commented that lady. "You have not considered me at all,
you ungrateful girl! Only think how I could have exploited 'my friend,
the countess'! And what a fine place for me to visit!"

It had been arranged by the two houses that Dick and Olive should be
married in the early summer when the college closed; and Mrs.
Easterfield had arranged in her own mind that the wedding should be in
her city house. It would not be too late in the season for a stylish
wedding--a thing Mrs. Easterfield had often wished she could arrange,
and it was hopeless to think of waiting until her little ones could help
her to this desire of her heart. She held this great secret in reserve,
however, for a delightful surprise at the prope