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WILD MARGARET, - 283
ness,” said the prince, quietly, ‘‘and more beautiful—you
will pardon me—than ever in my eyes.”
bh “ and in mine, old fellow!” said Blair, holding out his
and.
There was silence after that significant meeting of the
palms, then Blair said, ‘‘ Any news?”
The prince was silent a mement.
““No, not much,” he answered, after a pause. ‘“ All you
wished done I have had carried out.”
_ He referred to two graves in the cemetery at Naples
which he had. undertaken to keep in order—two graves
covered with huge slabs of black marble, one bearing the
Initials ‘‘ A. A.,” and the other ‘‘ V. G.”
Blair nodded, and his face grew cloudy for a moment.
. And Lottie?”
Lottie doesn’t need your generous assistance any
longer,’’ said the prince, with a smile. ‘‘She is now one
" of the most famous young ladies in Italy. I forgot to
May do so the more completely I want
send you the paper containing an account of her great
success in the new spectacular play ’’—he had not forgot-
.ten, but had remembered with some consideration that
the paper would only recall the past and its old bitterness
—**she took them by storm, I assure you, and for weeks
our volatile people were raving about her; for that matter
they are raving still,’’ and he laughed.
_ Blair smiled, but his face was still clouded, and the
prince laid a hand on his shoulder.
“Blair, forgive me, but I think the time has now come
when the past may be allowed to bury its dead. That it
you and Lady
Ferrers to assist me in a short ceremony.”
Blair looked at him inquiringly. .
‘Will you ask her ladyship if she will kindly show me
round her studio?” said the prince, gravely. ‘‘She knows
how devoted I am to the art of which she is so great a
mistress!’
‘* Certainly,” said Blair, rising, and still puzzled.
hey went into the drawing-room, where Margaret and
the princess were sitting .very close together, and Blair
whispered a few words to Margaret.:
She got up directly, and drew the princess’ arm through
er own.
‘* Follow me,” she said;,and she led them to the mag-
nificent studio which Blair had built for her.
Here, amongst costly pictures and rare statues gleam-
ing in the reflected light of antique curtains of deep reds
and blues of Oriental dyes, she showed them her latest
work,
/