I have imagined she wishes me well, as they say here--though she has never distinguished me in such a way as that!" Madame Grandoni had foretold the truth; Mrs.Light, a couple of weeks later, convoked all Roman society to a brilliant ball.

Rowland went late, and found the staircase so encumbered with flower-pots and servants that he was a long time making his way into the presence of the hostess.

At last he approached her, as she stood making courtesies at the door, with her daughter by her side.

Some of Mrs.Light's courtesies were very low, for she had the happiness of receiving a number of the social potentates of the Roman world.

She was rosy with triumph, to say nothing of a less metaphysical cause, and was evidently vastly contented with herself, with her company, and with the general promise of destiny.
Her daughter was less overtly jubilant, and distributed her greetings with impartial frigidity.