eyes
fixed on the open page.

"My dear Edith," remonstrated her aunt, "Mr. Carlton was telling us--"

"Yes, I know," exclaimed Miss Morris, laughing, "but this interests him
much more than electric lights. Who do you think is in London?" she
cried, raising her eyes to his, and pausing for proper dramatic effect.
"The Princess Aline of Hohenwald!"

"No?" shouted Carlton.

"Yes," Miss Morris answered, mocking his tone. "Listen. 'The Queen's
Drawing-room'--em--e--m--'on her right was the Princess of
Wales'--em--m. Oh, I can't find it--no--yes, here it is. 'Next to her
stood the Princess Aline of Hohenwald. She wore a dress of white silk,
with train of silver brocade trimmed with fur. Ornaments--emeralds and
diamonds; orders--Victoria and Albert, jubilee Commemoration Medal,
Coburg and Gotha, and Hohenwald and Grasse.'"

"By Jove!" cried Carlton, excitedly. "I say, is that really there?
Let me see it, please, for myself."

Miss Morris handed him the paper, with her finger on the paragraph, and
picking up another, began a search down its columns.

"You are right," exclaimed Carlton, solemnly; "it's she, sure enough.
And here I've been within two hours of her and didn't know it?"

Miss Morris gave another triumphant cry, as though she had discovered a
vein of gold.

"Yes, and here she is again," she said, "in the Gentlewoman: 'The
Queen's dress was of black, as usual, but relieved by a few violet
ribbons in the bonnet; and Princess Beatrice, who sat by her mother's
side, showed but little trace of the anxiety caused by Princess Ena's
accident. Princess Aline, on the front seat, in a light brown jacket
and a becoming bonnet, gave the necessary touch to a picture which
Londoners would be glad to look upon more often.'"

Carlton sat staring forward, with his hands on his knees, and with his
eyes open wide from excitement. He presented so unusual an appearance
of bewilderment and delight that Mrs. Downs looked at him and at her
niece for some explanation. "The young lady seems to interest you,"
said she, tentatively.

"She is the most charming creature in the world, Mrs. Downs," cried
Carlton, "and I was going all the way to Grasse to see her, and now it
turns out that she is here in England, within a few miles of us." He
turned and waved his hands at the passing landscape. "Every minute
brings us nearer together."

"And you didn't feel it in the air!" mocked Miss Morris, laughing.
"You are a pretty p