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BY ORDER OF THE CZAR. 297

not mentioned anything you said to Walter ; but he and I both have been very sensible of Philip's behavior to night ; be calm, love; don't fret; we will pat it all right; take your cue from me. You shall not be sacrificed."

Dolly pressed Jenny's arm, and Mrs. Milbanke put on her best manner. She had some of the gifts of the natural actress. Now was the time, she thought, to give them play.

" Delightful, is it not, Philip ? " she said, " a lovely scene."

" Yes," he said, " it is."

" The countess is a lovely creature."

" Is she not ? " he replied.

" Everybody can see you think so," she went on, laugh- ing coquettishly. " Oh, you men, you men ! "

Philip blushed and looked at Dolly, who tossed her head defiantly, and took Walter's arm.

" I want to show you the canal from the balcony," he said. "Philip will give his arm to Jenny."

Philip did so.

" We will follow Walter," said Jenny.

Philip had now an opportunity of seeing that the coun- tess was not the only woman present who was attracting attention. Both women and men noticed the youthful English beauty. Dolly was not blind to this unspoken admiration. Her gait had all the healthful firmness of her tennis-playing countrywomen. She held herself with a natural gracefulness. Her complexion was fair as it was rich. Her lips red, her smile sweet, frank and unsophis- ticated. In her pale blue Duchesse dress, and with her white round shoulders, her shining yellow hair in a high coif, and her deep blue eyes, she was an exceptionally fine type of British beauty, and may be said to have divided the honors of the evening in the opinion of a brilliant assembly, so far as beauty and distinction were concerned, with the hostess herself.