He stood silent, touched by the faint under-ringing wistfulness in the laughing voice that challenged his opinion; and something within him responded in time: "Your gown is a beauty; such wonderful lace.

Of course, anybody would know it came straight from Paris or from some other celestial region--" "But it didn't!" cried the girl, delighted.

"It looks it, doesn't it?
But it was made by Letellier! Is there anything you don't like about it, Captain Selwyn?
_Anything_ ?" "Nothing," he said solemnly; "it is as adorable as the girl inside it, who makes it look like a Parisian importation from Paradise!" She colored enchantingly, and with pretty, frank impulse held out both her hands to him: "You _are_ a dear, Captain Selwyn! It is my first real dinner gown and I'm quite mad about it; and--somehow I wanted the family to share my madness with me.

Nina will--she gave it to me, the darling.

Austin admires it, too, of course, but he doesn't notice such things very closely; and Gerald isn't here.