stake much on your hazard," she said, glancing back at Lali, who
still stood immovable. "Au revoir!" She left the room. Richard heard the
door close after her and the servant retire. Then he turned to Lali.

As he did so, she ran forward to him with a cry. "Oh, Richard, Richard!"
she exclaimed, with a sob, threw her arms over his shoulder, and let her
forehead drop on his breast. Then came a sudden impulse in his blood.
Long after he shuddered when he remembered what he thought at that
instant; what he wished to do; what rich madness possessed him. He knew
now why he had come to town; he also knew why he must not stay, or, if
staying, what must be his course.

He took her gently by the arm and led her to a chair, speaking cheerily
to her. Then he sat down beside her, and all at once again, her face
wet and burning, she flung herself forward on her knees beside him, and
clung to him.

"Oh, Richard, I am glad you have come," she said. "I would have killed
her if I had not thought of you. I want you to stay; I am always better
when you are with me. I have missed you, and I know that baby misses you
too."

He had his cue. He rose, trembling a little. "Come, come," he said
heartily, "it's all right, it's all right-my sister. Let us go and see
the youngster. There, dry your eyes, and forget all about that woman.
She is only envious of you. Come, for his imperial highness!"

She was in a tumult of feeling. It was seldom that she had shown emotion
in the past two years, and it was the more ample when it did break
forth. But she dried her eyes, and together they went to the nursery.
She dismissed the nurse and they were left alone by the sleeping
child. She knelt at the head of the little cot, and touched the child's
forehead with her lips. He stooped down also beside it.

"He's a grand little fellow," he said. "Lali," he continued presently,
"it is time Frank came home. I am going to write for him. If he does not
come at once, I shall go and fetch him."

"Never! never!" Her eyes flashed angrily. "Promise that you will not.
Let him come when he is ready.

"He does not, care." She shuddered a little.

"But he will care when he comes, and you--you care for him, Lali?"

Again she shuddered, and a whiteness ran under the hot excitement of her
cheeks. She said nothing, but looked up at him, then dropped her face in
her hands.

"You do care for him, Lali," he said earnestly, almost solemnly, his
lips twitching slightly.