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who work through the midnight hours。 In these excursions the young men
became in a way familiar； though neither of them ever told the other the
real feelings of their hearts or the real aim of their lives。
The proposed dinner took place ten days after its suggestion。 There
was nothing remarkable in the function itself； all millionaires have the
same delicacies and the same wines； and serve these things with precisely
the same ceremonies。 And； as a general thing； the company follow rigidly
ordained laws of conversation。 Stories about public people； remarks about
the weather and the opera； are in order； but original ideas or decided
opinions are unpardonable social errors。 Yet even these commonplace
events may contain some element that shall unexpectedly cut a life in two；
and so change its aims and desires as to virtually create a new character。 It
was Frederick Mostyn who in this instance underwent this great personal
change； a change totally unexpected and for which he was absolutely
unprepared。 For the people gathered in Mrs。 Denning's drawing…room
were mostly known to him； and the exceptions did not appear to possess
any remarkable traits； except Basil Stanhope； who stood thoughtfully at a
window； his pale； lofty beauty wearing an air of expectation。 Mostyn
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decided that he was naturally impatient for the presence of his fiancee；
whose delayed entrance he perceived was also annoying Ethel。 Then there
was a slight movement； a sudden silence； and Mostyn saw Stanhope's face
flush and turn magically radiant。 Mechanically he followed his movement
and the next moment his eyes met Fate； and Love slipped in between。
Dora was there； a fairy…like vision in pale amber draperies； softened with
silk lace。 Diamonds were in her wonderfully waved hair and round her fair
white neck。 They clasped her belt and adorned the instep of her little
amber silk slippers。 She held a yellow rose in her hand； and yellow
rosebuds lay among the lace at her bosom； and Mostyn； stupefied by her
undreamed…of loveliness； saw golden emanations from the clear pallor of
her face。 He felt for a moment or two as if he should certainly faint； only
by a miracle of stubborn will did he drag his consciousness from that
golden…tinted； sparkling haze of beauty which had smitten him like an
enchantment。 Then the girl was looking at him with her soft； dark； gazelle
eyes； she was even speaking to him； but what she said； or what reply he
made； he could never by any means remember。 Miss Bayard was to be his
companion； and with some effort and a few indistinct words he gave her
his arm。 She asked if he was ill； and when a shake of the head answered
the query； she covered the few minutes of his disconcertion with her
conversation。 He looked at her gratefully and gathered his personality
together。 For Love had come to him like a two… edged sword； dividing the
flesh and the spirit； and he longed to cry aloud and relieve the sweet
torture of the possession。
Reaction； however； came quickly； and with it a wonderful access of all
his powers。 The sweet； strong wine of Love went to his brain like celestial
nectar。 All the witty； amusing things he had ever heard came trooping into
his memory； and the dinner was long delayed by his fine humor； his
pleasant anecdotes； and the laughing thoughts which others caught up and
illustrated in their own way。
It was a feast full of good things； but its spirit was not able to bear
transition。 The company scattered quickly when it was over to the opera or
theater or to the rest of a quiet evening at home； for at the end enthusiasm
of any kind has a chilling effect on the feelings。 None of the party
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understood this result； and yet all were； in their way； affected by the
sudden fall of mental temperature。 Mr。 Denning went to his library and
took out his private ledger； a penitential sort of reading which he relished
after moods of any kind of enjoyment。 Mrs。 Denning selected Ethel
Rawdon for her text of disillusion。 She 〃thought Ethel had been a little
jealous of Dora's dress；〃 and Dora said； 〃It was one of her surprises； and
Ethel thought she ought to know everything。〃 〃You are too obedient to
Ethel；〃 continued Mrs。 Denning and Dora looked with a charming
demureness at her lover； and said； 〃She had to be obedient to some one
wiser than herself；〃 and so slipped her hand into Basil's hand。 And he
understood the promise； and with a look of passionate affection raised the
little jeweled pledge and kissed it。
Perhaps no one was more affected by this chill； critical after…hour than
Miss Bayard and Ethel。 Mostyn accompanied them home； but he was
depressed； and his courtesy had the air of an obligation。 He said he had a
sudden headache； and was not sorry when the ladies bid him 〃good night〃
on the threshold。 Indeed； he felt that he must have refused any invitation to
lengthen out the hours with them or anybody。 He wanted one thing； and he
wanted that with all his soulsolitude； that he might fill it with images of
Dora； and with passionate promises that either by fair means or by foul； by
right or by wrong； he would win the bewitching woman for his wife。
CHAPTER IV
〃WHAT do you think of the evening； Aunt Ruth？〃 Ethel was in her
aunt's room； comfortably wrapped in a pink kimono； when she asked this
question。
〃What do you think of it； Ethel？〃
〃I am not sure。〃
〃The dinner was well served。〃
〃Yes。 Who was the little dark man you talked with； aunt？〃
〃He was a Mr。 Marriot； a banker； and a friend of Bryce Denning's。 He
is a fresh addition to society； I think。 He had the word ‘gold' always on his
lips； and he believes in it as good men believe in God。 The general
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conversation annoyed him； he could not understand men being entertained
by it。〃
〃They were； though； for once Jamie Sayer forgot to talk about his
pictures。〃
〃Is that the name of your escort？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃And is he an artist？〃
〃A second…rate one。 He is painting Dora's picture； and is a great
favorite of Mrs。 Denning's。〃
〃A strange； wild…looking man。 When I saw him first he was lying；
dislocated； over his ottoman rather than sitting on it。〃
〃Oh； that is a part of his affectations。 He is really a childish； self…
conscious creature； with a very decided dash of vulgarity。 He only tries to
look strange and wild； and he would be delighted if he knew you had
thought him so。〃
〃I was glad to see Claudine Jeffrys。 How slim and graceful she is！ And；
pray； who is that Miss Ullman？〃
〃A very rich woman。 She has Bryce under consideration。 Many other
men have been in the same position； for she is sure they all want her
money and not her。 Perhaps she is right。 I saw you talking to her； aunt。〃
〃For a short time。 I did not enjoy her company。 She is so mercilessly
realistic； she takes all the color out of life。 Everything about her； even her
speech； is sharp…lined as the edge of a knife。 She could make Bryce's life
very miserable。〃
〃Perhaps it might turn out the other way。 Bryce Denning has capacities
in the same line。 How far apart； how far above every man there； stood
Basil Stanhope！〃
〃He is strikingly handsome and graceful； and I am sure that his
luminous serenity does not arise from apathy。 I should say he was a man
of very strong and tender feelings。〃
〃And he gives all the strength and tenderness of his feelings to Dora。
Men are strange creatures。〃
〃Who directed Dora's dress this evening？〃
〃Herself or her maid。 I