Beyond the Rocks

And if she had known it was-"Really, Monica, how fortunate to have secured you at short notice like

this," Lord Bracondale was saying. "I only found I had a free evening at

breakfast, and I met Jack on my way to the polo-ground just in the nick

of time."

"We love coming," Mrs. Ellerwood replied. "For unsophisticated English

people it is a great treat. We go back on Saturday--every one will be

asking what is keeping you here so long."

"My plans are vague," Lord Bracondale said, casually. "I might come back

any day, or I may stay until well into June--it quite depends upon how

amused I am. I rather love Paris."

And to himself he was thinking-"How I wish that atrocious woman over there with the paradise plume

would keep her hat out of the way. Ah, that is better! How lovely she

looks to-night! What an exquisite pose of head! And what are those two

damned foreigners saying to her, I wonder. Underbred brute, the

American, Herryman Hoggenwater! What a name! She is laughing--she

evidently finds him amusing. Abominably cattish of the widow not to ask

me. I wonder if she has seen me yet. I want to make her bow to me. Ah!"

For just then magnetism was too strong for Theodora, and, in spite of

her determination, their eyes met.

A thrill, little short of passion, ran through Lord Bracondale as he saw

the wild roses flushing her white cheeks--the exquisite flattery to his

vanity. Yes, she had seen him, and it already meant something to her.

He raised his champagne glass and sipped a sip, while his eyes, more

ardent than they had ever been, sought her face.

And Theodora, for her part, felt a flutter too. She was angry with

herself for blushing, such a school-girlish thing to do, Sarah had

always told her. She hoped he had not noticed it at that

distance--probably not. And what did he mean by drinking her health

like that? He--oh, he was-"Now, truly, Mrs. Brown, you are cruel," Mr. Herryman Hoggenwater said,

pathetically, interrupting her thoughts. "I tell you I am simply longing

to know if you will come for a drive in my automobile, and you do not

answer, but stare into space."

Theodora turned, and then the young American understood that for all her

gentle looks it would be wiser not to take this tone with her.

He admired her frantically, he was just "crazy" about her, he told Mrs.

McBride later. And so now he exerted himself to please and amuse her

with all the vivacity of his brilliant nation.