“Availing herself of the privilege of her mask, she turned to me, and in the tone of an old friend, and calling me by my name, opened a conversation with me, which piqued my curiosity a good deal.  She referred to many scenes where she had met me—­at Court, and at distinguished houses.  She alluded to little incidents which I had long ceased to think of, but which, I found, had only lain in abeyance in my memory, for they instantly started into life at her touch.

“I became more and more curious to ascertain who she was, every moment.  She parried my attempts to discover very adroitly and pleasantly.  The knowledge she showed of many passages in my life seemed to me all but unaccountable; and she appeared to take a not unnatural pleasure in foiling my curiosity, and in seeing me flounder in my eager perplexity, from one conjecture to another.

“In the meantime the young lady, whom her mother called by the odd name of Millarca, when she once or twice addressed her, had, with the same ease and grace, got into conversation with my ward.

“She introduced herself by saying that her mother was a very old acquaintance of mine.  She spoke of the agreeable audacity which a mask rendered practicable; she talked like a friend; she admired her dress, and insinuated very prettily her admiration of her beauty.  She amused her with laughing criticisms upon the people who crowded the ballroom, and laughed at my poor child’s fun.  She was very witty and lively when she pleased, and after a time they had grown very good friends, and the young stranger lowered her mask, displaying a remarkably beautiful face.  I had never seen it before, neither had my dear child.  But though it was new to us, the features were so engaging, as well as lovely, that it was impossible not to feel the attraction powerfully.  My poor girl did so.  I never saw anyone more taken with another at first sight, unless, indeed, it was the stranger herself, who seemed quite to have lost her heart to her.

“In the meantime, availing myself of the license of a masquerade, I put not a few questions to the elder lady.

“‘You have puzzled me utterly,’ I said, laughing.  ’Is that not enough?  Won’t you, now, consent to stand on equal terms, and do me the kindness to remove your mask?’

“‘Can any request be more unreasonable?’ she replied.  ’Ask a lady to yield an advantage!  Beside, how do you know you should recognize me?  Years make changes.’

“‘As you see,’ I said, with a bow, and, I suppose, a rather melancholy little laugh.

“‘As philosophers tell us,’ she said; ’and how do you know that a sight of my face would help you?’

“‘I should take chance for that,’ I answered.  ’It is vain trying to make yourself out an old woman; your figure betrays you.’

“’Years, nevertheless, have passed since I saw you, rather since you saw me, for that is what I am considering.  Millarca, there, is my daughter; I cannot then be young, even in the opinion of people whom time has taught to be indulgent, and I may not like to be compared with what you remember me.  You have no mask to remove.  You can offer me nothing in exchange.’