ut from it
swelled her gleaming breast and arms, so bare that it seemed to me a
shame to look upon them. Yet it could not be denied they were of
wondrous beauty, white as polished marble.

And all about her snowy throat and rounded arms, and in the masses of
her splendid hair, were sparkling, gleaming stones, with hearts of
pure light, which I know now to have been diamonds, but knew not then,
for never had I seen aught of their like.

And I gazed at her, drinking in her beauty until my soul was filled,
as she stood like some goddess before her worshipper. I think she read
my thought in my face and liked it--for she was a vain woman, and to
such even the admiration of a child is sweet.

Then she leaned down to me until her splendid eyes looked straight
into my dazzled ones.

"Tell me, little Beatrice--for they say the word of a child is to be
believed--tell me, do you think me beautiful?"

I found my voice and told her truly that I thought her beautiful
beyond my dreams of angels--as indeed she was. Whereat she smiled as
one well pleased.

Then my Uncle Hugh came in, and though I thought that his face
darkened as he looked on the naked splendour of her breast and arms,
as if he liked not that the eyes of other men should gloat on it, yet
he kissed her with all a lover's fond pride, while she looked at him
half mockingly.

Then said he, "Sweet, will you grant me a favour?"

And she answered, "It may be that I will."

And he said, "Do not dance with that man tonight, Alicia. I mistrust
him much."

His voice had more of a husband's command than a lover's entreaty. She
looked at him with some scorn, but when she saw his face grow
black--for the Montressors brooked scant disregard of their authority,
as I had good reason to know--she seemed to change, and a smile came
to her lips, though her eyes glowed balefully.

Then she laid her arms about his neck and--though it seemed to me that
she had as soon strangled as embraced him--her voice was wondrous
sweet and caressing as she murmured in his ear.

He laughed and his brow cleared, though he said still sternly, "Do not
try me too far, Alicia."

Then they went out, she a little in advance and very stately.

After that my aunts also came in, very beautifully and modestly
dressed, but they seemed to me as nothing after Alicia. For I was
caught in the snare of her beauty, and the longing to see her again so
grew upon me that after a time I did an undutiful and d