"Oh! Mr. Mather, I do appreciate your kindness, I assure you," said the Donna, also sighing deeply; "I am almost tempted to ask your advice, for I feel that you are truly my friend; but I am afraid you will think I have been naughty in having exposed myself to such annoyances." "No, indeed, my dear Donna," replied the millionaire, quite enraptured at this evident token of her confidence in him; "I know that you are too lovely to be anything but an angel, and I shall be only too happy to give you advice upon any subject that you confide to me." As the conversation was becoming highly interesting, the tones of the parties being of a really lover-like tenderness, Madame Sevier took a hasty glimpse through the door, and saw that she could watch as well as listen, unperceived. Mather was standing beside the Donna, bending over her and looking into her face, while she had her head half turned away, as if in coy indecision. "Well, Mr. Mather----" "Why do you address me always so formally? Can you not call me Henry?" asked Mather, boldly. "How would it sound if any one should hear me?" said the Donna, casting down her eyes and playing with her watch-chain. "But when we are alone no one can hear you," replied Mather. "Won't you call me Henry when we have an occasional _tête-à-tête_?" "Well, then you must be very discreet, Henry," answered she, looking up, blushing and hesitating as she spoke. "I will be discretion itself," said the now wholly infatuated Mather, with a look of triumph; and to show that he accepted the conditions of the agreement, he sealed it by raising her hand to his lips. "Oh! fie! fie!" she exclaimed; "is it thus that you show your discretion? I shall be obliged to retract my promise if you become so rash. Now, sit down beside me, and be more polite in future." "I will not be so hasty again, my dear Donna; but my pleasure was so great that I was somewhat beside myself. Now tell me what it was that caused your troubles." "Well, Mr. Math----" "No, no; not 'Mr. Mather;' recollect your promise," interrupted Mather, as he saw she hesitated to call him by his first name.