I know not whether you ever served a monarchy.

Come, you shall see that our republic has neither secrets nor hypocrisies." On the instant she was not shrewd and tactful woman of the world, not student, but once more coquette and woman of impulse.

She looked at me with mockery and invitation alike in her great dark eyes, even as I threw down the chain at the door and opened it wide for her to pass.
"Is that my only reward ?" she asked, smiling as she fumbled at a glove.
In reply, I bent and kissed the fingers of her ungloved hand.

They were so warm and tender that I had been different than I was had I not felt the blood tingle in all my body in the impulse of the moment to do more than kiss her fingers.
Had I done so--had I not thought of Elisabeth--then, as in my heart I still believe, the flag of England to-day would rule Oregon and the Pacific; and it would float to-day along the Rio Grande; and it would menace a divided North and South, instead of respecting a strong and indivisible Union which owns one flag and dreads none in the world..