She turned, but he detained her.

“No, these are sufficiently pretty for my purpose, and I am hurried.  I trust I may be pardoned this robbery of your floral ornaments, since you will probably see neither Mr. Roscoe, Mr. Chesley, nor yet Padre Sahib this evening.”

She laid the snowy perfumed bells in his outstretched hand, and said: 

“I am exceedingly glad that even in such a trifle I can contribute to your pleasure, and I assure you that you are perfectly welcome to my hyacinths.”

The sweet downcast face, and slightly wavering voice appealed to all that was tender and loving in his cold undemonstrative nature, and he was strongly tempted to take her in his arms, and tell her the truth, which every day he found it more difficult to conceal.

“Thank you.  Some day, Lily, I will tell you their mission and fate.  Should I forget, remind me.”

He smiled, bowed, and hurried from the room, leaving her sadly perplexed.

At dinner Mrs. Palma said: 

“I have promised to chaperon the Brace sisters to-night to the opera, and shall take tea at their house.  Were I sure of a seat for you, I should insist upon taking you, for I dislike to leave you so much alone; but the box might be full, and then things would be awkward.”

“You need have no concern on my account, for I have my books, and am accustomed to being alone.  Moreover, I am not particularly partial to the music of ‘Martha’ which will be played to-night.”

“Did your guardian tell you he has just won that great ‘Migdol’ case that created so much interest?”

“He mentioned it.  Mrs. Palma, I thought he looked weary and jaded; as if he needed a rest, rather than a journey.”

“Erle is never weary.  His nerves are steel, and he will speedily forget his court-house cares in Mrs. Carew’s charming conversation.”

“But she is not in Washington?”

“She told me yesterday she would go there this afternoon, and showed me the most superb maize-coloured satin just received from Worth, which she intends wearing to-morrow evening at the French Ambassador’s ball, or reception.  You know she is very fascinating, and though Erle thinks little about women, I really believe she will succeed in driving law books, for a little while at least, out of his cool clear head.  My dear, I am going to write a short note.  Will you please direct Hattie to bring my opera hat, cloak, and glasses?”

With inexpressible relief, Regina heard the heavy silk rustle across the hall, when she took her departure, and rejoiced in the assurance that there was no one to intrude upon her solitude.

How she wished that she could fly to some desert, where undiscovered she might cry aloud, in the great agony that possessed her heart.

The thought that her guardian had hastened away to accompany that grey-eyed, golden-haired witch of a woman to Washington was intolerably bitter; and as she contemplated the possibility, nay the probability, of his speedy marriage, a wild longing seized her to make her escape, and avoid the sight of such a spectacle.