looked at me as though he thought I had no right
to live, and still less to laugh--I believe I was laughing--and as we
turned the corner I peeped back through the curtain, and he still stood
there in the full glare of the light, staring. It's impolite,
cousins--_very! Gentlemen_ don't stare at girls in America!"

"What did he look like, Opal?" asked Lady Fletcher.

"Like a Greek god!" answered the girl, without a second's hesitation.

"What!"

Both women gasped, simultaneously. They were dismayed.

"Oh, don't be shocked! He had the full panoply of society war-paint on.
He was certainly properly clothed, but as to his being in his right
mind, I have my doubts--serious doubts! He stared!"

"I hope you didn't stare at him, Opal!"

"Well, I did! What could he expect? And I laughed at him, too! But I
don't believe he saw me at all, more's the pity. I am quite sure he
would have fallen in love with me if he had!"

"Opal!"

Opal was thoroughly enjoying herself now. She did enjoy shocking people
who were so delightfully shockable!

"Why, _'Opal'?"_ and her mimicry was irresistible. "Don't you think I'm
a bit lovable, cousin?--not a bit? You discourage me! I'm doomed to be a
spinster, I suppose! Ah, me! And I'd far rather be the spinster's cat!
Cats aren't worried about the conventions and all that sort of thing.
Happy animals! While we poor two-footed ones they call human--only we
aren't really more than half so--have to keep our claws well hidden and
purr hypocritically, no matter how roughly the world rubs our fur the
wrong way, nor how wild we are to scratch and spit and bristle! Wouldn't
you like to be a cat, Alice?"

"Goodness, child! What an idea! I am very well contented, Opal, with
the sphere of life into which I have been placed!"

"Happy, happy Alice! May that state of mind endure forever! But come!
Haven't you an idea, either of you, who my Knight of the Stare can be?"

"You didn't describe him, Opal."

Opal opened her eyes in wide surprise.

"Didn't I? Why, I thought I did, graphically! A Greek god, dressed _en
regle_. What more do you want? I am sure anyone ought to recognize him
by that."

Her listeners looked at her in real consternation, which she was quick
to see. Her eyes danced.

"Well, if you insist upon details, I can supply a few, I guess, if I
try. I am really dying of curiosity to know who he is and why he stared.
Of course I didn't look at him very closely. It wouldn't have
been--e