In obedience to Miss Falconer's command, Howard presented himself at

Clarendon House at a comparatively early hour that evening. There were

some guests staying in the house, amongst them Lady Clansford, who was

still obliging enough to play the part of presiding genius; but they

were all resting, or dressing for the ball, and the drawing-room, into

which a couple of superbly liveried footmen showed Howard, was empty.

But presently he heard the _frou-frou_ of satin, and Maude Falconer

swept in; her beauty, the splendour of her dress, the flashing of the

diamonds in her hair and on her neck and arms, her queenly presence,

almost made Howard catch his breath.

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She came in with a languid grace, the air of _hauteur_ which suited her

so well, but as she saw that Howard was alone, the languor and the

_hauteur_ almost disappeared, and she came forward and gave him her

hand, and he saw a look on her face which reminded him of that upon the

ill-fated Italian, though it did not resemble it. For the first time he

noticed a shade of anxiety on the level brow, something like a pathetic

curve in the perfectly moulded lips; and he fancied that the gloved

hand, which he held for a moment, quivered.

"Is Stafford not with you?" she asked. "I thought he was coming early.

His father expected him."

"No, I came alone," replied Howard. "But, no doubt, Stafford will be

here presently."

She stood, calm and statuesque, but with her eyes downcast for a

moment, then she raised them and looked at him. "About this cotillon,"

she said; then she broke off: "Do you know what is going to happen

to-night? It is a secret, but--but I feel as if I must tell you, though

I am betraying Sir Stephen's confidence. He tells me everything--more

than he tells even Stafford. Strange as it may seem, he--he is fond of

me."

"That does not seem strange to me," said Howard, with a little bow.

She made a slight gesture of impatience.

"It seems strange to me," she said, with a touch of bitterness. "So few

persons are fond of me."

Howard smiled.

"For once I must be guilty of contradicting a lady," he said. "When I

reflect that to-night I shall form one of a band of devoted courtiers

who will throng round you in the hopeless pangs of despair--"

She repeated the gesture of impatience.

"Have you seen Stafford to-day?" she asked, looking down.




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