ort
distance behind them, and from time to time they heard the strains of a
regimental band alternating with the softer strains of a waltz played
by a group of Hungarian musicians. For a moment neither of them spoke,
but sat watching the white dresses of the women and the uniforms of the
men moving in and out among the trees, lighted by the lanterns hanging
from the branches, and the white mist of the moon.

"Do you know," said Carlton, "I'm rather afraid of you to-night!" He
paused, and watched her for a little time as she sat upright, with her
hands folded on her lap.

"You are so very resplendent and queenly and altogether different," he
added. The girl moved her bare shoulders slightly and leaned back
against the bench.

"The Princess did not come," she said.

"No," Carlton answered, with a sudden twinge of conscience at having
forgotten that fact. "That's one of the reasons I took you away from
those men," he explained. "I wanted you to sympathize with me."

Miss Morris did not answer him at once. She did not seem to be in a
sympathetic mood. Her manner suggested rather that she was tired and
troubled.

"I need sympathy myself to-night," she said. "We received a letter
after dinner that brought bad news for us. We must go home at once."

"Bad news!" exclaimed Carlton, with much concern. "From home?"

"Yes, from home," she replied; "but there is nothing wrong there; it is
only bad news for us. My sister has decided to be married in June
instead of July, and that cuts us out of a month on the Continent.
That's all. We shall have to leave immediately--tomorrow. It seems
that Mr. Abbey is able to go away sooner than he had hoped, and they
are to be married on the first."

"Mr. Abbey!" exclaimed Carlton, catching at the name. "But your sister
isn't going to marry him, is she?"

Miss Morris turned her head in some surprise. "Yes--why not?" she said.

"But I say!" cried Carlton, "I thought your aunt told me that YOU were
going to marry Abbey; she told me so that day on the steamer when he
came to see you off."

"I marry him--my aunt told you--impossible!" said Miss Morris, smiling.
"She probably said that 'her niece' was going to marry him; she meant
my sister. They had been engaged some time."

"Then who are YOU going to marry?" stammered Carlton.

"I am not going to marry any one," said Miss Morris.

Carlton stared at her blankly in amazement. "Well, that's most
absurd!" he exclaimed.