omfort; she will have to turn round and come back. I want
her dreadfully to come to Baden-Baden."

"I wish she would," said Longueville. "Is she travelling alone?"

"Oh, no. They 've got some Englishman. They say he 's devoted to Ella.
Every one seems to have an Englishman, now. We 've got one here, Captain
Lovelock, the Honourable Augustus Lovelock. Well, they 're awfully
handsome. Ella Maclane is dying to come to Baden-Baden. I wish you 'd
write to her. Her father and mother have got some idea in their heads;
they think it 's improper--what do you call it?--immoral. I wish you
would write to her and tell her it is n't. I wonder if they think that
Mrs. Vivian would come to a place that 's immoral. Mrs. Vivian says she
would take her in a moment; she does n't seem to care how many she has.
I declare, she 's only too kind. You know I 'm in Mrs. Vivian's care.
My mother 's gone to Marienbad. She would let me go with Mrs. Vivian
anywhere, on account of the influence--she thinks so much of Mrs.
Vivian's influence. I have always heard a great deal about it, have n't
you? I must say it 's lovely; it 's had a wonderful effect upon me. I
don't want to praise myself, but it has. You ask Mrs. Vivian if I have
n't been good. I have been just as good as I can be. I have been so
peaceful, I have just sat here this way. Do you call this immoral? You
're not obliged to gamble if you don't want to. Ella Maclane's father
seems to think you get drawn in. I 'm sure I have n't been drawn in. I
know what you 're going to say--you 're going to say I have been drawn
out. Well, I have, to-night. We just sit here so quietly--there 's
nothing to do but to talk. We make a little party by ourselves--are you
going to belong to our party? Two of us are missing--Miss Vivian and
Captain Lovelock. Captain Lovelock has gone with her into the rooms to
explain the gambling--Miss Vivian always wants everything explained. I
am sure I understood it the first time I looked at the tables. Have you
ever seen Miss Vivian? She 's very much admired, she 's so very unusual.
Black hair 's so uncommon--I see you have got it too--but I mean for
young ladies. I am sure one sees everything here. There 's a woman
that comes to the tables--a Portuguese countess--who has hair that is
positively blue. I can't say I admire it when it comes to that shade.
Blue 's my favorite color, but I prefer it in the eyes," continued
Longueville's companion, resting upon him her own two b