"My dear Pauline," said Miss Hastings, "if you would----" But she paused suddenly, for Pauline was sitting with a rapt expression on her face, deaf to every word. Such a light was in those dark eyes, proud, triumphant, and clear--such a smile on those curved lips; Pauline looked as though she could see into futurity, and as though, while the view half frightened, it pleased her. Suddenly she rose from her seat, with her hands clasped, evidently forgetting that she was not alone. "Nothing could be better," she said. "I could not have asked of fate or fortune anything better than this." When Miss Hastings, wondering at her strange, excited manner, asked her a question, she looked up with the vague manner of one just aroused from deep sleep. "What are you thing of, Pauline?" asked Miss Hastings. "I am thinking," she replied, with a dreamy smile, "what good fortune always attends those who know how to wait. I have waited, and what I desired is come." Thursday came at last. Certainly Lady Darrell had spared neither time nor expense in preparing for her visitor; it was something like a warrior's home-coming--the rarest of wines, the fairest of flowers, the sweetest of smiles awaiting him. Lady Darrell's dress was the perfection of good taste--plain white silk trimmed with black lace, with a few flowers in her golden hair. She knew that she was looking her best; it was the first time that the captain had seen her in her present position, so she was anxious to make the most favorable impression on him. "Welcome once more to Darrell Court!" she said, holding out one white hand in greeting. "It seems like a welcome to Paradise," said the captain, profanely; and then he bowed with the grace of a Chesterfield over the little hand that he still held clasped in his own. CHAPTER XXXII. CAPTAIN LANGTON ACCEPTED. Lady Darrell was obliged to own herself completely puzzled. All the girls she had ever known had not only liked admiration, but had even sought it; she could not understand why Pauline showed such decided aversion to Captain Langton. He was undeniably handsome, graceful, and polished in manner; Lady Darrell could imagine no one more pleasant or entertaining. Why should Pauline show such great distaste for his society, and such avoidance of him? There were times, too, when she could not quite understand Aubrey Langton. She had seen him look at Pauline with an expression not merely of love, but with something of adoration in his eyes; and then again she would be startled by a look of something more fierce and more violent even than hate. She herself was in love with him; nor was she ashamed to own the fact even to herself. She could let her heart speak now--its voice had been stifled long enough; still she would have liked to know the cause of Pauline's avoidance of him.