At Love's Cost

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.

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.