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I found an excuse, too, in the idea that I must make progress in art, and that it was in any case an excellent use of time, and a very good "entrée" to art, if I played waltzes and quadrilles of an afternoon from five to eight on the violin to Melanie's accompaniment on the piano, while the rest of the company danced to our music. For the Bálnokházys had company every day.

"Ah, that is true," cried Madame de Fleury, writing rapidly. She left the note unfolded on the desk, and, as she rose, said in a tone of ludicrously mingled petulance and elation, "You have conquered! But I shall have my dress!" "Be sure of it!" answered Madeleine. Victorine now announced that all other work had been laid aside, and the young ladies awaited Mademoiselle Melanie's commands.

Numberless romantic stories were fabricated and circulated, and the startling and improbable motives assigned for her incognita bore witness to the fertile imagination of the American public. It may well be imagined that there was but one all-engrossing theme discussed in the working-rooms of Mademoiselle Melanie's establishment.

Mélanie's mood of softness had not left her; but sitting there, face to face with this man, face to face with his seriousness, his masculine will and strength, she felt that she had something yet to struggle for, some deep personal right to be acknowledged. It was with a dignity, an aloofness, that was quite real, yet very sweet, that she met this American lover.

"Certainly you would have killed him, Desi, had not your good angel, your dear Fanny, luckily for you, intervened, and grasped your arm, saying 'this hand is mine. You must not defile it." The smile disappeared from Melanie's face. "And now," said Desiderius, addressing his remarks directly to Sárvölgyi; "be my judge, sir.

At any rate, it is certain that when Desiderius answered Madame's question with such calm contempt "I cast him out, I did not kill him," on Melanie's face could be remarked a certain radiance, though not caused by delight that her fiancé's life had been spared. Lorand remarked it, and hastened to spoil the smile.

Sometimes after spending long hours with her, a fancy for a retired life and domestic happiness would seize me. Gentlemen with brains are privileged to commit foolish acts at times, and I really do not know what I might have ended in doing, had I not been preserved from the danger in an unexpected manner. "One evening, when I arrived at Melanie's, I found the bird had flown.

Absurd as his own attempt at a declaration had been, he somehow felt that he himself was not absurd in Mélanie's eyes, though he was far from certain whether she was inclined to marry him. Aleck, on his part, had not come to his decision suddenly or impulsively; nor, having arrived there, was he to be turned from it easily.

The blood rushed into my temples as I conceived the idea. I was already about to take my glass, when I cast one look at Melanie's face, and in that moment she gazed upon me with such disheartening pride that in terror I withdrew my hand from my glass. With undismayed determination I answered: "No." "Perhaps you don't wish to drink wine?"

Melanie and her mother were dressed in silk: on Melanie's wavy curls could be seen the traces of a mother's careful hand: and Madame Bálnokházy herself made a very impressive picture, while Sárvölgyi had put on his very best. They must have prepared for a very great festival here to-day!