Beyond the Rocks

Theodora was enjoying herself. Environment and atmosphere affected her

strongly. The bright pink lights, the sense of night and the soft moon

beyond the wide open balcony windows, the scents of flowers, the gayety,

and, above all, the knowledge that Lord Bracondale was there, gazing at

her whenever opportunity offered, with eyes in which she, unlearned as

she was in such things, could read plainly admiration and unrest.

It all went to her head a little, and she became quite animated and full

of repartee and sparkle, so that Josiah Brown could hardly believe his

eyes and ears when he glanced across at her. This his meek and quiet

mouse!

His heart swelled with pride when Mrs. McBride leaned over and said to

him: "You know, Mr. Brown, you have got the most beautiful wife in the world,

and I hope you value her properly."

It was this daring quality in his hostess Josiah appreciated so much.

"She's not afraid to say anything, 'pon my soul," he said to himself. "I

rather think I know my own possession's value!" he answered aloud, with

a pompous puffing out of chest, and a cough to clear the throat.

The Austrian Prince on Theodora's right hand pleased her. He had a quiet

manner, and the freemasonry of breeding in two people, even of different

nations, drew her to talk naturally to him in a friendly way.

He was a fatalist, he told her; what would be would be, and mortals like

himself and herself were just scattered leaves, like barks floating down

a current where were mostly rocks ahead.

"Then must we strike the rocks whether we wish it or no?" asked

Theodora. "Cannot we help ourselves?"

"Ah, madame, for that," he said, "we can strive a little and avoid this

one and that, but if it is our fate we will crash against them in the

end."

"What a sad philosophy!" said Theodora. "I would rather believe that if

one does one's best some kind angel will guide one's bark past the rocks

and safely into the smooth waters of the pool beyond."

"You are young," he said, "and I hope you will find it so, but I fear

you will have to try very hard, and circumstances may even then be too

strong for you."

"In that case I must go under altogether," said Theodora; but her eyes

smiled, and that night at least such a possibility seemed far enough

away from her.

The Austrian looked across at her husband. Such marriages were rare in

his country, and he had thought so too in England. He wondered what

their story could be. He wondered how soon she would take a lover--and

he realized how infinitely worth while that lover would find his

situation.