pipe in one. Killing two birds with one stone has always had a special attraction for me. Regina was captivated by a mediæval lute, inlaid with ivory, exquisitely carved, and of a graceful shape. 'So becoming to the player,' she observed candidly. How much more picturesque than pianos and violins! Ah, I should have been an instrumentalist if I had lived in those days,' she sighed, with an arch glance at Tristan, who was watching her gravely. What a contrast, even to these!' she added, pointing to three Cremona violins in a separate glass case, and upon which Mdlle. Therval's beautiful wistful eyes were naturally fixed. No need to ask her where her choice would have lain. These were in fact the real gems of the collection. Does your master play?' asked Regina brusquely, turning to our escort.

'His Excellency is a collector,' she replied oracularly, as she unlocked the case that held the jewels.

'Collector? Dog in the manger, you mean,' rejoined Erlanger, with indignation. But the dog is not at home. Mdlle. Therval, suppose you take one and play for us. It would be a sin for you to pass by and not touch: they should belong to you, by rights, not to him, the idle fool.'

The opportunity was tempting, but Mdlle. Therval seemed to hesitate. 'What would his Excellency say?' I suggested gravely.

'He'll never know,' returned Erlanger. 'You or Tristan will give the good lady a trifle to hold her tongue.' Our basso seconded the entreaties, remarking that the owner, if ever it came to his ears, could only regret that he had not been present to assist at the experiment. Suona, suona,' we all cried with one consent; but as the room was too small for good

acoustic effect, we stepped out on the balcony. The player stood up in the middle; we grouped around her, listening intently,all but Regina, who was posing, as though the violin romanza were but the accompaniment, the soft music to her beauty and allurements, which at this very moment were understood to be breaking the heart of the bass of the sorrowful countenance. Herr Tristan, at the extreme end of the balcony, was looking across at her despondingly. She forgot he was short-sighted, Regina, and could not tell a beautiful woman from Emanuel Cuscus at a distance of yards.

Our Suonatrice played on, as artists play impromptu, seldom before a paying public-the bloom is off the peach before it gets to the market. I, Emanuel Cuscus, could be sentimental, when Beethoven is being played on a balcony by Malle. Therval on a Cremona violin. But this time my attention was diverted by Regina's byplay with Tristan. It was very coquettish, and so upset my gravity that presently I was compelled to retreat indoors to laugh. On the balcony of the room opposite I had noticed a little staircase leading up to the flat roof, where there was a promenade-Italian fashion -set with flower-pots. I pursued my explorations in this direction, to find myself over my companions' heads, looking down on the balcony. Mdlle. Therval had just ceased playing, and they were all applauding her. I joined in, to draw their attention to my present position; present position; when a fresh diversion was created in the volatile minds of my party by the sight of a fine Angora cat. Regina made a dart at it; but it eluded her, and ran into the house. She gave chase; the others followed, and they went racing with a hue

and cry through the dismantled chambers of the palazzo. Mdlle. Therval lingered on the balcony. Music has a dangerous power of reminiscence. What she was

thinking of, as she leaned over the balustrade, pretending to watch the boats on the lake, the women washing linen on the water's brink, I could not conjecture; but presently, turning round, she saw Tristan there behind her. The Angora chase had ended in an impromptu game of hide and seek; and he, leaving those madcaps, had seized the opportunity to return to the balcony, and, closing the glass doors, shut himself out there with her alone.

I fancy she would have avoided the tête-à-tête if she could; but how could she? He had a determined look, a look that Curtius might have worn when about to leap into the gulf. There seemed to me no indiscretion in assisting in the scene. I was beginning to be interested, and a little anxious as to the result.

Tristan watched her for a minute in silence as she stood there holding the Stradivarius. Then I distinctly heard him say, with emphasis,

'You are a happy woman.'

This, I take it, was only a roundabout way of telling her he was an unhappy man. Mdlle. Therval raised her wondering eyes; her fingers still, with a nervous unconscious movement, ran over the dumb strings of the violin. 'Why?' she asked simply. 'You are a great musician,' said the enthusiast; 'that should be enough for content.'

'Some might think,' she returned, with spirit, 'that to have what you have, and be what you are, ought to be enough also.'

'Is that a reproach,' he asked despondingly, for having laid aside my position and independ

ence, that I might, for a little while, be near you?'

She shrank slightly at this confession; he resumed:

'O, why say it? I see it in your face. What earthly pleasure can a fastidious amateur find in replacing a third-rate professional, and convincing himself how immeasurably his inferior he is on the platform? You forget; it was a way to your presence-your daily companionship.'

She merely replied, in a tone of delicate but distinct reproach,

"When I promised to keep the secret of your name, you assured me it was a musical experience you had set your heart on making.'

'It was true, but not the whole truth. You have my confession

now.

6

To be with you, not merely to hear you play, but to see you smile, move, live-as your comrades might-that was what I longed for. I envied that idiot Cuscus' (thank you, Monsieur Tristan), who hands you up to the platform; I envied that dancing-master Erlanger, when he accompanies you, or turns over the leaves. Women never love like that. It is the better for them.'

Her eyes flashed, not at him, but, as it were, at something in the distance. She turned to him now, saying firmly,

'At that time you made me a promise-never to repeat, never again to speak of this.'

I remember,' he interposed. 'I have broken my part of the contract, and forfeit your promise to keep my secret. But the farce is over, and my adventure ends here. I do not intend even to return with you to Como. Cuscus won't be surprised; nothing surprises him. So, as I am leaving, you will listen-for this one last time.'

I was growing seriously uneasy.

I have always known my friend 'Tristan' for an oddity, so his fantastic idea of joining us hardly surprised me. That there was a sentimental motive at the bottom of it I have since observed; but who would have suspected him of such a serious, obstinate design, as put me in danger of having all my plans upset? His meaning, then, was nothing less than to rob me of my violin-player by making her his Baroness. I stood aghast at the thought, which first dawned upon me now. He did not leave me in suspense another moment.

'I have learnt to understand this at least,' he said impressively, 'that I was wrong to dream of asking you to give up the full free exercise of your talent in your profession, to become my wife. Forgive me for not saying in Rome, months ago, what I say now. Remain what you are, the world's violin-player, yet let me hope. Instead of your taking my station upon you, I take yours. You and your art-interests shall be the sole object of my life. Your career may be varied and exciting, but has it not its trials too? Do you never need a companion who has the right to protect you, whose business it is to guard you from care and persecution? Does not every woman need such a one? Should not you, of all others?'

I was losing all patience as I listened to this outburst. I could have remonstrated and protested, but felt it was too late. The cursed fellow had outwitted me. It was evidently an old attachment too, and he was ready now to sacrifice anything she askedlet her name her own conditions. His proposal was that she should continue to play the violin; but nce let Mdlle. Therval change er name and condition, and I

had little faith in her remaining with Emanuel Cuscus. Tristan himself cannot have hung upon her answer with more painful eagerness. She spoke so low as to be inaudible, but it was superfluous. Her look, accent, gesture, told me all; and in Tristan's countenance I had further proof, had I wanted it, in its fixed melancholy as he listened. I breathed again, and lit a cigarette. Poor Tristan ! I must say he bore his fate very well, and did not seem so surprised as I was.

'Let me tell you something,' he resumed presently, with the astonishing fluency silent people show in an emergency, when the ice is once broken. 'You will never love a man of these Bohemians-these vagabond adventurers.' (Thanks again, my friend; you shall pay for this.) 'You may herd with them, eat with them, be classed with them, friends with them, and adored by them: it can go no further. They feel, and you feel, there is a barrier between you, they will never pass.' To this she returned no answer.

'I think of that,' he said, 'and am no more jealous of these associates of yours; for I say to myself that, whatever I may be to you now, I could never have been more than a comrade, were I the poor singer I have so often wished myself. Was there truth in that?'

She evaded his question. Her voice trembled a little, then grew clearer, as she answered,

'I cherish my liberty. I should not make a good wife to you. I see now I am never to live but for music.'

'You are divine,' he exclaimed suddenly, and I most undeserving of you. I will live to become more worthy of what I knew all the while was only a mad dream, and which I now give up, entirely and for ever at your command.'

She took the hand he offered, saying,

And if I ask you to keep your word and part from us at onceit is for a reason-I think-I fear all this is doing mischief.'

'My adventure ends here,' he said, raising her hand to his lips.

A low laugh from inside the room startled them, as it did myself. The laugh was Regina's. Malle. Therval quitted the balcony instantly. The window had been closed during their dialogue, so Regina can merely have been an ocular witness of the scene. I alone was in a position to give a full and true account of what had passed, and I confide only in these pages.

But Regina had seen enough thoroughly to put her out of temper. She feigned insouciance; but I saw the storm blowing up at last that I had apprehended. I hastened to descend from my perch and rejoin them. Tristan, as I anticipated, got me aside for a private interview, which was soon concluded, to our mutual satisfaction. He is really a most superior man, both as to culture and generosity, one with whom it is a pleasure to have to deal, and Malle. Therval's insensibility to his advances is totally inexplicable to me.

The return steamer was now approaching the pier. I had forgotten the hour, and caught sight of the funnel barely in time to summon my stray sheep together -urging all to fly, unless they wished to lose the boat. We made a rush for the landing, and in the flurry the secession of one among us was not noticed.

Only when we had got safely on board, a mere instant before the steamer started, it was perceived that the butt of the party was missing.

'Where's Tristan? What has become of him?'

'Jumped into the lake to take singing-lessons from the mermaids,' said Erlanger, peering over the sides of the steamer.

'Or stayed behind to make love to the civil housekeeper,' suggested the tenor. 'Great Heavens! I said so. Look, look! There he is, on the balcony!'

The steamer was passing before the windows. There above, sure enough, stood our ex-basso, leaning over the parapet, and making friendly signs.

'He is speaking to us. Hark! What does he say

?'

The air was quite calm, and his utterances were distinctly heard by every one as we gathered in a group:

'Baron Miramar thanks his friends, and wishes them goodnight.'

The steamerswept by. Erlanger, the tenor, the contralto, were gaping with surprise. I interchanged amicable signals and farewells with our friend in the balcony, and Mulle. Therval vouchsafed him a parting smile. I glanced at Regina. She was looking dangerous. However, she controlled herself so far as to put a good face on the matter for the next few hours. Little else but the adventure was talked of for the remainder of the evening. Erlanger pronounced it a very pretty one. But Mdlle. Therval has made herself an enemy for life.

The next morning I received a communication from Regina. She wished to break her contract, which, on certain terms, it was open to her still to do. She had finally determined not to cross the Alps with us, having on reflection made up her mind in favour of the Russian.

'O, the green-eyed monster!' I

sighed. I have seen a good deal of him, and he is generally in the way. But for once he has done me a service. Mdlle. Visconti goes. I do not want her, and she was getting troublesome. Mdlle. Therval stays. I cannot spare her. And she has declined to become Baroness Miramar. Good for Emanuel Cuscus!'

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE ICE-QUEEN.

Ir was in March. The Breretons, who-to quote from a county gossip chronicle recently sprung into existence-had been 'starring' at the West-end during the winter season, were down at Hawkwood for the recess, recruiting respectively from the fatigues of business and of pleasure.

What was Brereton's business? At least a standing joke among his friends at the club. He talked gravely of his affairs and engagements, conscientiously believing in their importance, and considered himself very hard worked. Well, he was president of one society, and on the committee of two or three more. But he contrived habitually to invest the minutest actions of his life with the dignity of business. He read the paper as though a good deal depended on whether he got through it or not; addressed himself to write a note or pay a call as though to the despatch of a public duty, bringing to the performance of the task the same punctuality, circumspection, and care not to commit himself, as though the fate of nations were involved. Then, with a grateful sense of having well earned his repose, he came down to Hawkwood, hunted a little, shot a good

deal, and entertained the county gentry.

His wife was not beloved by the latter. She was too proud. Fortunately for her, she was feared also. People spoke ill of her respectfully and with reserve. 'Foreign ways' was the favourite charge against her; which meant merely that she dressed well, and eschewed a few ancient Hampshire fashions in some of her household arrangements. And no one was more noticed, run after, and, in the main, respected, than the lady of Hawkwood. A coquette, indeed! The ill-natured slander fell dead in her presence. He must be bold or blind who tries to break through that surface of proud cold indifference. Rightly had Val, in his heart, surnamed her the Ice-Queen. He knew her better than most. Yet between the extremes of heat and cold we find it sometimes hard to distinguish.

It was Easter-a gay season, as gaiety goes in Hampshire. But the Ice-Queen was bored-Sir Adolphus perceived it one morningat breakfast, as he was thoughtfully peeling an egg. They were alone-which was the exception at Hawkwood. They had this very day been expecting friends, who, alas, had just written to postpone their visit. It was the first morning they had breakfasted tête-à-tête, and Diana was bored. What was her husband to do?

Why, go out; which was what he did as soon as they rose from the table. He was no fool, Sir Adolphus.

Diana betook herself to her morning-room, an apartment on which she has expended money and taste till she is sick of success. A more amiable tabernacle is not to be seen in Hampshire. Not quite the proper thing,' thought the parson's wife,