added
triumphantly. "You may go up to her rooms after dinner, and if she
hasn't got that gown on, and if she didn't come by that doorway--well--
I'll say I've gone stark staring mad! That's so!"

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

A PROMISE.

Just as the ladies had left the dining-room, a note was put into Colonel
Estcourt's hand.

He opened it and read the two brief lines it contained. "I will see you
in my boudoir when you have finished dinner."

He pushed aside the glass he had just filled and left the table at once.

He knocked at the door of her room, and the low, sweet voice that bade
him enter, thrilled his heart with its accustomed sorcery. He opened
the door, but as he stepped across the threshold, he suddenly paused,
and for a moment it seemed to him that his heart ceased to beat. Was it
only chance that reproduced the dream-scene of the previous night, for
the suite of rooms were thrown open, and through the delicate amber
tints of the satin hangings gleamed the faint rose-hue of lamplight,
paling into opal in the farthest chamber but giving to all the soft and
glowing colouring he remembered so well. Swiftly as his eyes took in
the picture, they seemed also to take in the lovely figure reclining
among soft snowy furs, robed in colourless silk bordered with the same
fur.

She raised herself on her arm as he approached. "I have not treated you
well to-day, Julian," she said. "But I have been ill--nervous--
disturbed. I slept badly, and had terrible dreams. You must forgive
me."

He bent over the extended hand and touched it with his lips.

"You are cold," she said. "What is the matter?"

"I too, had a terrible dream," he said. "I suppose the effects are
still upon me." Then he looked calmly and fixedly at her.

"You were downstairs a few moments ago," he said. "Why?"

She looked surprised. "Did you see me?" she asked.

He shook his head. "No," he said. "It was your American friend."

Her face grew thoughtful. "Then the power _is_ coming back," she said.
"I wonder why."

He seated himself beside her. "Of course," he said, "it was not really
yourself?"

"I have not left this couch for three hours," she said. "All the same,
I wanted to have a peep at you all."

"I hope you will not exercise that power too frequently," he said. "You
know I never liked it."

"I know," she said, smiling up at his grave face, "that you were always
afraid I should not come back from my flights, but I