She thought of the lodge and its one small parlor,
and then felt wretched and uncomfortable, out of place, and
unhappy.
"I have never seen any charades," she said, stiffly, and with
crimson cheeks.
The countess opened her blue eyes in surprise, and Ronald looked
anxiously from one to the other.
"My wife was too young when we were married to have seen much of
the world," he said, inwardly hoping that the tears he saw
gathering in Dora's dark eyes would not fall.
"Ah, then, she will be of no use in our council," replied the
countess, quickly. "Let us go out on the terrace; there is
always inspiration under an Italian sky."
She led the way to a pretty veranda on the terrace, and they sat
under the shade of a large spreading vine.
"Now we can discuss my difficulty in peace," said the lady, in
her pretty, imperious way. "I will, with your permission, tell
you some of my ideas."
The countess was not particularly gifted, but Ronald was charmed
by the series of pictures she placed before him, all well chosen,
with startling points of interest, scenes from noble poems,
pictures from fine old tragedies.
Pages:
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125