“Yes, my love.  But—­you are going out?  Of course you are.  You are always going out, when you are not gone.  I hope, however, that I have not interfered with any very important engagement of yours, my dear?” said the banker, half impatiently, half affectionately.

“Oh, no, papa, love!  I was only going with Lady Belgrade to a flower-show at the Crystal Palace.  I will give it up very willingly if you wish me to do so,” said Salome, gently, stooping and pressing her lips to his, and then seating herself on the side of his bed.

“I do not wish you to do so, my child.  I shall be going out myself in a couple of hours.  But I want to have a little conversation with you.  I suppose a few minutes more or less will make no difference in your enjoyment of the flower-show.”

“None whatever, papa, dear.”

“Humph!  Salome, now that I look at you well, I do not believe you care a penny for the flower-show.  Come, tell me the truth, girl.  Do you care one penny to go to the flower-show?” he inquired, looking keenly into her pensive face.

“No, papa, dear,” she answered, in a very low tone.

“Humph!  I thought not.  Now do you care for any of the shows, plays, balls, and other tom-fooleries that occupy you day and night?  I pause for a reply, my daughter.”

“No, papa, I do not,” she answered, in a still lower tone.

“Then why the deuce do you go to them?” demanded the banker.

His daughter’s soft, gray eyes sank beneath his scrutinizing gaze, but she did not answer.  How could she confess that she went out into company daily and nightly only in the hope of seeing again the one man to whom she had given her unsought heart, and for whose presence her very soul seemed famishing.

“What is it that you do care for, then, Salome?” demanded her father, varying his question.

Her head sank upon her bosom, but still she did not answer.  How could she tell him that she cared only for a man who did not care for her.

“This is unbearable!” burst forth the banker.  “Here you are with every indulgence that affection can yield you, every luxury that money can give you, and yet you are not well nor content.  What ails you girl?  Are you pining after your convent?  Set fire to it.  Are you pining after your convent, I ask you, Salome?”

“Indeed, no, papa!”

“What!” demanded her father, starting up at her reply and gazing with doubt into her pale, earnest face.

“I am not thinking of the convent, dear papa.  Indeed I had forgotten all about it.  If it will give you any pleasure to hear it, dear papa, let me tell you that I have quite given up all ideas of entering a convent,” added Salome, with a pensive smile.

“What!” exclaimed the banker, starting up in a sitting position and bending toward his daughter as if in doubt whether to gaze her through and through or to catch her to his heart.