e. 'You've been across since I saw you last. What did you
do?' they'll ask, politely. And then, instead of simply telling them
that I have been in Paris or London, I can say, 'Oh, I've been chasing
around the globe after the Princess Aline of Hohenwald.' That sounds
interesting, doesn't it? When you come to think of it," Carlton
continued, meditatively, "it is not so very remarkable. Men go all the
way to Cuba and Mexico, and even to India, after orchids, after a nasty
flower that grows in an absurd way on the top of a tree. Why shouldn't
a young man go as far as Germany after a beautiful Princess, who walks
on the ground, and who can talk and think and feel? She is much more
worth while than an orchid."

Miss Morris laughed indulgently. "Well, I didn't know such devotion
existed at this end of the century," she said; "it's quite nice and
encouraging. I hope you will succeed, I am sure. I only wish we were
going to be near enough to see how you get on. I have never been a
confidante when there was a real Princess concerned," she said; "it
makes it so much more amusing. May one ask what your plans are?"

Carlton doubted if he had any plans as yet. "I have to reach the
ground first," he said, "and after that I must reconnoitre. I may
possibly adopt your idea, and ask to paint her portrait, only I dislike
confusing my social and professional sides. As a matter of fact,
though," he said, after a pause, laughing guiltily, "I have done a
little of that already. I prepared her, as it were, for my coming. I
sent her studies of two pictures I made last winter in Berlin. One of
the Prime Minister, and one of Ludwig, the tragedian at the Court
Theatre. I sent them to her through my London agent, so that she would
think they had come from some one of her English friends, and I told
the dealer not to let any one know who had forwarded them. My idea was
that it might help me, perhaps, if she knew something about me before I
appeared in person. It was a sort of letter of introduction written by
myself."

"Well, really," expostulated Miss Morris, "you certainly woo in a royal
way. Are you in the habit of giving away your pictures to any one
whose photograph you happen to like? That seems to me to be giving new
lamps for old to a degree. I must see if I haven't some of my sister's
photographs in my trunk. She is considered very beautiful."

"Well, you wait until you see this particular portrait, and--you will