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simultaneously down her cheeks.
What on earth are you crying for? I asked aghast.
You are not pleased with me, said Carlotta, with a choke in her
voice.
The two tears fell like raindrops on to her bosom, and she stood
before me a picture of exquisite woe. Then I did a very foolish
thing.
Last week a little gold brooch in a jeweller's window caught my
fancy. I bought it with the idea of presenting it to Carlotta,
when an occasion offered, as a reward for peculiar merit. Now,
however, to show her that I was in no way angry, I abstracted the
bauble from the drawer of my writingtable, and put it in her
hand.
You please me so much, Carlotta, said I, that I have bought
this for you.
Before I had completed the sentence, and before I knew what she
was after, her arms were round my neck and she was hugging me
like a child.
I have never experienced such an odd sensation in my life as the
touch of Carlotta's fresh young arms upon my face and the perfume
of spring violets that emanated from her person. I released
myself swiftly from her indecorous demonstration.
You mustn't do things like that, said I, severely. In
England, young women are only allowed to embrace their
grandfathers.
Carlotta looked at me wideeyed, with the foxterrier knitting of
the forehead.
But you are so good to me, Seer Marcous, she said.
I hope you'll find many people good to you, Carlotta, I
answered. But if you continue that method of expressing your
appreciation, you may possibly be misunderstood.
I had recovered from the momentary shock to my senses, and I
laughed. She fluttered a sidelong glance at me, and a smile as
inscrutable as the Monna Lisa's hovered over her lips.
What would they do if they did not understand?
They would take you, I replied, fixing her sternly with my
gaze, they would take you for an unconscionable baggage.
_Hou!_ laughed Carlotta, suddenly. And she ran from the room.
In a moment she was back again. She came up to me demurely and
plucked my sleeve.
Come and show me what I must put on so as to please you.
I rang the bell for Antoinette, to whom I gave the necessary
instructions. Her next request would be that I should act the
part of lady'smaid. I must maintain my dignity with Carlotta.
The lovely afternoon had attracted many people to the park, and
the lawns were thronged. We found a couple of chairs at the edge
of one of the crosspaths and watched the elegant assembly.

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