His animated face seemed aglow with the pleasure of contemplation, and the sunshine lent a yellow tinge to his snowy hair.
"An exquisite picture, indeed, countess," he said, without moving.

"I trust your dreams were as sweet as they looked ?" "They were sweet, sir," she answered coldly, after a moment's pause, during which she looked steadily toward him.
"I regret that I should have disturbed them," he said, with a deferential bow; and he came and sat by her side, treading as lightly as a boy across the flags.

Hedwig shuddered and drew her dark skirts about her as he sat down.
"You cannot regret it more than I do," she said, in tones of ice.

She would not take refuge in the house, for it would have seemed like an ignominious flight.

Benoni crossed one leg over the other, and asked permission to smoke, which she granted by an indifferent motion of her fair head.
"So we are left all alone to-day, countess," remarked Benoni, blowing rings of smoke in the quiet air.
Hedwig vouchsafed no answer.
"We are left alone," he repeated, seeing that she was silent, "and I make it hereby my business and my pleasure to amuse you." "You are good, sir.