on and purple, with aureoles of wonderful splendor above their
beautiful heads. The floor was of inlaid woods polished until it
shone, and over it was laid a Persian carpet thick and soft as moss.
The chimney-piece was of wonderful beauty, and extended into the room,
leaving a sort of alcove on each side, and a low fire was burning in a
quaintly-designed grate. Over the mantel hung a large picture which I
did not know, but which made my heart beat as I looked: it was a copy
of the Sistine Madonna. In front of the fire was an easy-chair piled
with cushions, and beside it a low stool, while on either hand were
painted screens: on one the field of brilliant azure was strewn with
flowers of dazzling hues; the other was crossed by a flight of birds
of gorgeous plumage.

I had looked at everything, had taken in every surprise of beautiful
form and color: then my eyes were lifted again to the windows, and I
was gazing at the meek saints with their shining raiment and radiant
hair when I was suddenly recalled to a recollection of where I was and
why I was there. A hand pushed aside the velvet curtain which hung
across the doorway--a child's hand--and then a little girl entered,
followed by a greyhound as tall as herself. I rose and stood waiting
while she advanced, the same sunshine which transfigured the saints in
the windows playing over her white dress in brilliant rainbow tints.

She was a very little girl, yet her large, serious dark eyes and her
lithe way of carrying her slim height impressed me with a sort of awe
which I might not have felt for a grown woman. When she neared me she
stood perfectly still, regarding me silently with a deliberate glance.
She was very pale, with a complexion like the inner leaves of a white
rose, but her eyes lent fire to a face otherwise proud and cold. Her
hair had evidently been cut short, and curled close to her head in
loose brown curls. When she had fairly taken me in she held out her
hand. "How do you do?" she asked in a clear, deliberate voice. "I am
very glad to see you."

"Did you expect me?" I inquired shyly.

"Of course we did," she answered with some imperiousness, "or we
should not have sent the carriage and servants to meet you."

Then we were both silent again, and went on mentally making up our
minds concerning each other.

"Yes," she said presently, putting her hand into mine again, "you look
just as I thought you did. I asked papa: he said you had brown hair
and gra