hought, say nothing that hadn't been said, do nothing that
hadn't been done.

"He is like a bucket of spring water," thought Richard, as he turned
away, "cool, pure, tasteless. But there isn't enough of him to put out a
fire, or swim a boat, or turn the wheel of any mill of moment."

Richard went into the Green Drawing-room, where the younger, gayer
spirits were "receiving behind the line." There he saw Dorothy and Bess.
Before he could go to them, he caught the snarling accents of Storri. He
turned; that Russ was almost at his elbow. Storri, as though for
Richard's ear, was saying to a vapid young man whom Richard had seen at
the club:

"Oh! that is Miss Harley;--the one with the blue eyes and black hair.
Bad combination, believe me! I, who am a gentleman--a Russian
gentleman--give you my word that blue eyes and black hair mean treason
to a lover. No, I can't take you to her; she has shown a preference for
me, and I do not care to distinguish her by too much notice until I have
thought her over. On my soul, yes; I must think her over!"

Richard's hand fell heavy and rude on Storri's shoulder.

"Come with me," said he.

Storri had not counted on this; those sacred White House walls should
have protected him. He looked appealingly at his friend.

"Your friend will pardon you," said Richard coolly, "and, for this time,
you shall come back safe."

Richard drew Storri to a window, where they were by themselves.

"Pay heed to what I shall say," gritted Richard, and his eyes gave forth
a gray glimmer, like a saber suddenly unsheathed: "You must never take
Miss Harley's name upon your lips. Should you do so, I shall twist your
neck as once I twisted your fingers."

Storri began a spluttering stammer of protest and reproach.

"Don't hector me!" whispered Richard, with a sharp fervor of ferocity
that made Storri start, "or, when next we meet in the street, I'll take
my cane and beat you like a dog!"

Storri turned and tried to hide the fear that fed upon him with a tinge
of swagger. This in the White House--the palace of their President!
Storri was more and more convinced that the Americans were a rabble and
not a people!

"Remember!" said Richard, and the tones were like a threat of death.

That evening, early, Richard met Dorothy at Bess Marklin's. He made no
revelations touching his colloquy with Storri. There was a thick
down-come of snow, and the new flakes covered the street like feathers
to a fluffy depth