The Front Yard

uld have been a pleasure to see Eva at court; it's a very pretty little court they have now at Rome, I assure you, with that lovely Queen Mar

I have kept her so purposely; she has almost never been out of my sight. The Lambertis are one of the best among the old Roman families, and there could not be a more striking proof of Gino's devotion than his having persuaded his father to say (as he did to me two months ago) that he should be proud to welcome Eva 'as she is,' which meant that her very small dowry would not be considered an objection. As

ndsome Gino and the old Lamberti palace. But I'm a little bewildered, Fanny; you speak of it

the truth is, I did like Gino, and I wanted to tell you about him. No, Eva will not be the Marchesa Lamb

e turned up here? I used

perhaps y

ow-when he can forget

elbow, and slightly hugging herself. "He has forgotten th

has a large fortune-ten times as large, I

w that

ey could not build Eva an old castle. Couldn't y

e, though he pretended he was. I could see that he would be always going home. More than that, I should not be at all surpris

hat for your American

e war I nearly cried my eyes out; have you forgotten that? I scraped lint; I wanted to go to the front

ere already those of a woman, had had her nature stirred to its depths by events which the lad had been too

ic," he said. "All the same, you don't

tieth S

ame at random.

e; I could not be content without that. But Eva-Eva is different; she has been brought up over here e

it be wasted in

"A shy girl who cannot laugh and talk with everybody, who has never been out alone a step in her li

in the world do you want to marry her

some things, Philip, in spite of your winters on the Nile and your Scotch s

with all her sense, was going to make that same old mistake of supposing that

and yet quite at liberty as well. I mean, of course, in case she has a good husband. That is the mother's business, the mother's responsibility, and I think a mother who does not give her heart to it, her whole soul and energy, and choose well-I think such a mother an infamo

say she l

is virtually arranged-a delightful man, the old Count. They are to make handsome settlements; not only are they rich, but they are not in the least narrow-as even the best Italians are, I am sorry to say. The Verneuils are

Dallas, a

and threw back her shoulders. Ordinarily the line from the knot of her hair behind to her waist was long and somewhat convex, while correspondingly the distance between her chin and her belt in front wa

y erect, "but such a thought would never enter their minds; they think it an honor an

secret of the Belgian

I have investigated carefully. If you will stay half an hour longer you

owever, and his air of being a man of the world, there was such a charming expression of kindliness and purity in his still boyish eyes that any mother, with her young daughter's happiness at heart,

me out to join her mother on the terrace; Eva's daily lessons were at an end,

, meagre, plain in face; the other an American, somewhat younger, a short, ruddy man, dressed lik

scene, watched Fanny especially, with the amused eyes of a contemporary who remembers a different past. Fanny was looking dimpled and young; her tea was excellent, her tea-service elaborate (there was a s

Churchill, how delicious is this nest of yours!" said the Engli

red; she knew that Dallas was laughing; she would not look in his direction. Dallas, however, had taken himself off to the parapet

aples, "in a dusty out-of-the-way shop, if you will believe it, where there was nothing else but rubbish-literally nothing. From t

thanks," said Eva. "It i

l? Surely it's a mirac

ot smile in reply; she was looking vaguely at the blackened silver; but when

no effort to lure the young girl into the drawing-room, or even as far as the parapet. He was very well bred. At pres

at the long window of the drawing-room which served as one of the terrace do

e emerging from the lace she recognized it instantly. "Horace Barth

oken." And he bowed slightly to the Englishman and Pierre, his discriminating glance including even the little French governess, who smiled (though non-comprehendingly) in reply. "May I present to you a compatriot, Mrs. Churchill?" he

erfectly," said

curtains. "Come," he said. A tall man appeared. "Mr

only very original minds are bold enough to jump over. The stranger answered the questions promptly; he was evidently not original. He had arrived two days before; this was his first visit

ning to go a great deal t

re; I live ther

forward the only names she knew.) "St

e southern coast;

e of the State save a vague memory of her school geography: "Where are the Everglades?" "They are in the southern pa

and it isn't Spanish; it's a farm, and quite

an

ians. They work ver

"Did you receive the flowers I sent this morning?" said Pierre, bending his head so t

ful," said Eva, giving

not in the d

iling. "They are in the music-ro

trope and white lilies; and we have been studying Mozart this morning. Th

ome on with Mozar

red Eva. "Not ver

LET ME PRESENT TO

ed to her that her pupil, who played accurately, was not. Pierre also was fond of music, and played

rto," he went on, "to lunch there. Do y

ly," sa

gether, under the open sky, then it sometim

long talks, do we?" rem

d know how I do! With me it is one long thirst. Say that you sh

l. Because, if we should have longer talks, you

is eyes. Then, with his unfailing politeness, he i

emoiselle, gravely. "Her he

f am anything, but my love is so great, so vast; it holds you as the s

es had for the moment a va

iselle spoke no English, and Pierre would have been incapable