Mena House Hotel."

"You intend to be one of the party there then?" said Helen
faintly.

"Of course I do. And so do you, I hope."

"No, Denzil, I cannot. Don't ask me. I will stay here with Lady
Fulkeward. She is not going, nor are the Chetwynd Lyles. I shall
be quite safe with them. I would rather not go to the Mena House,-
-I could not bear it ..."

Her voice gave way entirely, and she broke out crying bitterly.

Denzil stood still and regarded her with a kind of sullen shame
and remorse.

"What a very sympathetic sister you are!" he observed. "When you
see me madly in love with a woman--a perfectly beautiful, adorable
woman--you put yourself at once in the way and make out that my
marriage with her will be a misery to you. You surely do not
expect me to remain single all my life, do you?"

"No, Denzil," sobbed Helen, "but I had hoped to see you marry some
sweet girl of our own land who would be your dear and true
companion,--who would be a sister to me,--who ... there! don't
mind me! Be happy in your own way, my dear brother. I have no
business to interfere. I can only say that if the Princess Ziska
consents to marry you, I will do my best to like her, for your
sake."