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"Fit for a king's palate," he murmured. "Say rather for the gods. Nectar, monsieur, nectar! My secrets bubble to my tongue as the wine bubbles to the surface." "Turn them into good money, Stefan. After all, what is this English Captain to you?" The soldier set down his tankard and lowered his voice into a confidential whisper.
"Thanks," he said ironically. "But you're too late. Mary knows, and has thrown me over." There was silence for several minutes. Then Stefan rose, picked up the draft from the floor, looked at it idly, refolded it into Mary's letter, and put both carefully away in his inside pocket. His face was very pale. "Adieu, Felicity," he said quietly. "You are quite right about it." And he held out his hand.
The man followed his curse with a blow a heavy blow, striking with the hand which held his sword, and the woman fell with a thud to the ground, to lie there until Stefan and the Countess, stealing from the house presently, covered the dead serving woman with the leopard skin. To find the key was hopeless, and the door was a stout one. It resisted the soldiers' efforts for a long while.
Byrd, but we've shorely missed you," she answered, with something less than her usual wholehearted smile. "Well, you must rejoice, now that the prodigal has returned," he grinned. "Mary, you haven't answered my question yet when are you coming in to see the picture? Why not to-morrow? I'm dying to show it to you." She flushed. "I can't come, Stefan; it's impossible to leave Baby so long."
With it she wore her mother's pearl ornaments. Stefan was entranced by the result, and Constance almost wept with satisfaction. "Oh, Mary Byrd," she cried, hugging her daintily to avoid crushing the frock; "you are the best thing that has happened in my family since my mother-in-law quit living with me." That night Stefan was at his best.
But I've always loved children more than anything in the world." She blushed, and Farraday, watching her, realized for the first time what a certain heightened radiance in her face betokened. He smiled very sweetly at her. She in her turn saw that he knew, and was glad. His manner seemed to enfold her in a mantle of comfort and understanding. As they finished their tea, Stefan arrived.
I want to see him again now with you." Stefan looked up. Dr. Hillyard was in the doorway of the little room. She nodded, and in a moment reappeared, carrying a small white bundle. "Here he is," she said; "he weighs eight and a half pounds. You can both look at him for a moment, and then Mrs. Byrd must go to sleep." She put the bundle gently down beside Mary, whose head turned toward it.
The Queen will load you with gifts and, perhaps, greater happiness still, some other woman will smile on you." "You begin to think of such things over early," Ellerey answered. "You'll have your troubles soon enough that way, no doubt." "Already, Captain." "So soon?" "This is a southern country, and we begin early. Are you a woman-hater, as Stefan is?
He was shabbier and more hopeless than ever, but his eyes were kind, his mouth gentle, and when she spoke of Stefan his face lighted up. She told him the story of the two friends, of his brother's wound and Stefan's crippling, and saw that his eyes filled with tears. "He was wonderful to me, Mrs. Byrd, he gave me a chance.
Mary was wonderfully happy in these days happier in a sense than she had ever been, for she had found, beyond all question, the full work for hands to do. And to her love for her children there was added not merely her maternal tenderness for Stefan, but a deep and growing admiration. For Stefan was changed not only in the body, but in the spirit. Everybody remarked it.
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