THE SIX OF SPADES. 131 



bright pictorial cases, were also beginning to take 

 their departure, when, as I retired to my ambuscade, 

 on hearing voices, the Guardsman, with Lady Alice on 

 his arm, approached, and stopped close in front of it. 

 I saw them through the leaves, the handsomest man 

 and the most beautiful woman of all who met there 

 that night. It was not only that they were both tall 

 and graceful in figure, with features regular and 

 refined, the eyes bright, and the cheeks glowing with 

 all the healthfulness and hopefulness of youth ; but 

 there was in both faces that which I would term 

 heart-beauty ; there was goodness, gentleness, and 

 truth. And yet, as " these two, a maiden and a youth, 

 stood there, gazing," or seeming to gaze, upon an 

 orange-tree covered with its blossoms, I noticed upon 

 both the expression of a strange and sad perplexity. 

 For a while they were silent, and then the soldier said, 

 " I am going in a few hours : I must speak to you. 

 Would you would you exchange those" (and he 

 looked at the roses in her bouquet) ; " would you 

 change them for these " (and he touched one of the 

 orange-flowers) for my sake for me ? " 



I shall never forget that beseeching voice. It 

 thrilled me through with the anxiety which it ex- 

 pressed, and I leaned forward to hear the answer. 

 "I I I believe that I am engaged to the viscount." 

 Then for a few awful seconds there might have been 

 in that conservatory no living soul, for there was no 

 sound save of distant music, faintly heard from the 

 ball. At last he spoke with a great effort, " I have 

 no right to ask you ; but do you love him ? " And 

 she, in a tone which cut my heart like a knife, 



