e for others--or for herself.
Though Christine's lips and cheeks glowed, and her eyes had wonderful
warm lights, incredulity was constantly signalled from both eyes and
lips. She was a fine, daring little animal, with as great a talent for
untruth as truth, though, to this point in her life, truth had been more
with her. Her temptations had been few.

CHAPTER III

Mr. Ferrol seemed honestly to like the old farmhouse, with its low
ceilings, thick walls, big beams and wide chimneys, and he showed
himself perfectly at home. He begged to be allowed to sit for an hour
in the kitchen, beside the great fireplace. He enjoyed this part of his
first appearance greatly. It was like nothing he had tasted since he
used, as a boy, to visit the huntsman's home on his father's estate, and
gossip and smoke in that Galway chimney-corner. It was only when he
had to face the too impressive adoration of Madame Lavilette that his
comfort got a twist.

He made easy headway into the affections of his hostess; for, besides
all other predilections, she had an adoring awe of the nobility. It
rather surprised her that Ferrol seemed almost unaware of his title.
He was quite without self-consciousness, although there was that little
touch of irresponsibility in him which betrayed a readiness to sell his
dignity for a small compensation. With a certain genial capacity for
universal blarney, he was at first as impressive with Sophie as he
was attentive to Christine. It was quite natural that presently Madame
Lavilette should see possibilities beyond all her past imaginations.
It would surely advance her ambitions to have him here for
Sophie's wedding; but even as she thought that, she had twinges of
disappointment, because she had promised Farcinelle to have the wedding
as simple and bourgeois as possible.

Farcinelle did not share the social ambitions of the Lavilettes. He
liked his political popularity, and he was only concerned for that.
He had that touch of shrewdness to save him from fatuity where the
Lavilettes were concerned. He was determined to associate with the
ceremony all the primitive customs of the country. He had come of a race
of simple farmers, and he was consistent enough to attempt to live up to
the traditions of his people. He was entirely too good-natured to take
exception to Ferrol's easy-going admiration of Sophie.

Ferrol spoke excellent French, and soon found points of pleasant contact
with Monsieur Lavilette, who