The old Countess encouraged the Prince; she was even pressing.

It seems to me," Madame Munster added, gently, "that--under the circumstances--I behaved very well." Acton glanced at her, and made the observation--he had made it before--that a woman looks the prettier for having unfolded her wrongs or her sufferings.

"Well," he reflected, audibly, "I should like to see you send his serene highness--somewhere!" Madame Munster stooped and plucked a daisy from the grass.

"And not sign my renunciation ?" "Well, I don't know--I don't know," said Acton.
"In one case I should have my revenge; in another case I should have my liberty." Acton gave a little laugh as he helped her into the carriage.

"At any rate," he said, "take good care of that paper." A couple of days afterward he asked her to come and see his house.