at she was playing
a part, and the consciousness that such a part was altogether out of
her power to maintain. Yet, why had she done it?

That evening I had a better opportunity to compare these two most
beautiful women; for beautiful each most certainly was, though in a
different way from the other. I had already felt on a former occasion
the bewitching effect of Nora's manner, and I had also felt to a
peculiar and memorable extent that spell which had been cast upon me by
Marion's glance. Now I could understand the difference between them and
my own feelings. For in witchery, in liveliness, in musical laughter,
in never-failing merriment, Nora far surpassed all with whom I had ever
met; and for all these reasons she had in her a rare power of
fascination. But Marion was solemn, earnest, intense; and there was
that on her face which sent my blood surging back to my heart, as I
caught her glance. Nora was a woman to laugh and chat with; Nora was
kind and gracious, and gentle too; Nora was amiable as well as witty;
charming in manner, piquant in expression, inimitable at an anecdote,
with never-failing resources, a first-rate lady-conversationist, if I
may use so formidable a word--in fact, a thoroughly fascinating woman;
but Marion!--Marion was one, not to laugh with, but to die for; Marion
had a face that haunted you; a glance that made your heart leap, and
your nerves tingle; a voice whose deep intonations vibrated through all
your being with a certain mystic meaning, to follow you after you had
left her, and come up again in your thoughts by day, and your dreams by
night--Marion! why Nora could be surveyed calmly, and all her
fascinating power analyzed; but Marion was a power in herself, who
bewildered you and defied analysis.

During that time when Nora had been confounded in my mind with the Lady
of the Ice, she had indeed risen to the chief place in my thoughts,
though my mind still failed to identify her thoroughly. I had thought
that I loved her, but I had not. It was the Lady of the Ice whom I
loved; and, when Marion had revealed herself, then all was plain. After
that revelation Nora sank into nothingness, and Marion was all in all.

Oh, that evening, in that pleasant parlor! Shall I ever forget it!

Our talk was on all things. Of course, I made no allusion to my journey
over the ice, and Nora soon saw that she was free from any such
unpleasant and embarrassing remarks. Freed from this fear, she became
her