Page:In a winter city, by Ouida.djvu/277

 late but what he was in time to see the arrival of the woman who had sat with him at her feet, and talked with him of Meleager and the white narcissus flowers.

Lady Hilda entered like a sovereign, and drew all eyes on herself.

She was attired as Vittoria Colonna, and carried her purples and cloth of gold with more than royal grace; the colour on her cheek was heightened, her eyes had a dewy brilliancy; what they spoke to her she seemed hardly to hear.

He was as her shadow all the evening.

They were both feverishly happy; both curiously troubled. Neither cared to look onward.

Society there assembled said that it was a great thing for the Duca della Rocca; and wondered whether they would live most in Floralia or Paris.

"C'est moi qui a inspiré cela," said the Duc de St. Louis, with much self-complacency, sitting down to the whist table; he was quite sure that all was right; he had seen the look in the eyes of both of them.