ift of plain speech," she observed.

"I hope I never shall," he declared. "It seems to me to be the simplest
and the best plan, after all, to say what you feel and to ask for what
you want."

"So delightful in Cumberland and Utopia," she sighed; "so impracticable
here!"

"Then since we can't find Utopia, come back to Cumberland," he
suggested.

A reminiscent smile played for a moment about her lips.

"I wonder," she murmured, "whether I shall ever again see that dear,
wonderful old house of yours, and the mist on the hills, and the stars
shining here and there through it, and the moon coming up in the
distance!"

"All these things you will see again," he assured her confidently. "It
is because I want you to see them again that I am here."

"Just now, at this minute, I feel a longing for them," she whispered,
looking across the table, out of the window, to the softly waving trees.

At the close of the luncheon, a servant handed around coffee and
liqueurs. The prince turned to Louise.

"You must not keep our young friend too late," he said. "He has
appointments with his tailor and other myrmidons who have undertaken to
adorn his person."

"Alas," replied Louise, rising, "I, too, have to go early to my
dressmaker's. Do the honors for me, prince, will you?--and I will make
my adieus now."

They all rose. She nodded to Graillot and Faraday. The prince moved to
stand by the door. For a moment she and John were detached from the
others.

"I want to see you alone," he said under his breath. "When can I?"

She hesitated.

"I am so busy!" she murmured. "Next week there are rehearsals nearly
every minute of the day."

"To-morrow," John said insistently. "You have no rehearsals then. I must
see you. I must talk to you without this crowd."

It was his moment. Her half-formed resolutions fell away before the
compelling ring in his voice and the earnest pleading in his eyes.

"I will be in," she promised, "to-morrow at six o'clock."

XIV

After the departure of her guests, Louise seemed to forget the pressing
appointment with her dressmaker. She stood before the window of her
drawing-room, looking down into the street. She saw Faraday hail a
taxicab and drive off by himself. She watched the prince courteously
motion John to precede him into his waiting automobile. She saw the two
men seat themselves side by side, and the footman close the door and
take his place besid