She grew crimson, and flashed a look at him. He was staring in the opposite direction. "Was it--was it Cravatz?" she asked, under her breath. "It was." The words seemed to issue from a steel trap. "Then you are free?" she breathed. "And unattached," he responded, dryly. She was silenced, and they drove on some little distance, until a thought flashed into her mind. "Oh," she said, "I was forgetting! Please ask him to drive to the post-office. I must see if there is a message from Mr. Vronsky about Denzil." Felix called an order to the driver, and then turned to her. "Do you really tell me that my brother demanded of you that you should take this formidable journey to him alone?" "Oh, no, no! Please don't imagine that! He thought Miss Rawson would come too. We were both at St. Petersburg, but Aunt Bee had an accident, and hurt herself so seriously that she could not move. So I determined to come alone. Mr. Vronsky's telegram was alarming." "I congratulate you upon your devotion," remarked Felix, as the carriage stopped at a wooden house. "My brother is a lucky man." "He is a very good man," said the girl, nettled by the sneer. "Please ask for the name of Rawson," she added, pettishly. He soon came out, with a message. "Condition much improved." She gave a sigh of relief, and handed him her purse. "How thankful I am! Will you please dispatch a message to say--'Safely arrived Gretz, coming on.' Don't say I'm alone, or Denzil will be nervous." Felix ignored the purse, but went once more within the building, sent off the desired words, and soon emerged. "Any further orders?" he asked. "No," said Rona, faintly. Her feelings were a most curious mixture of joy and pain. It was wonderfully consoling, after her nightmare journey, her loneliness and helplessness, to find herself in charge of a strong man. But it was horrible to have the relation between herself and Felix so acutely strained. She only ventured one more question. "Did you know, before I told you, that Denzil had gone to Savlinsky to seek you?" "Yes; I heard that." "From Mr. Vronsky?" "No." "Does Mr. Vronsky--does Denzil know that you are safe?" "I think so, by now." "You have not seen them?" "No." She dared not pursue the subject, and spoke no more until they reached the place known as the Hotel Moscow. And then, indeed, when she saw the edifice which called itself a hotel, marked the wild crowds surging about the doors, and heard their strange tongue, she felt so thankful for the presence of Felix that for a space she forgot all other discomforts. CHAPTER XXV THE CONVALESCENCE OF DENZIL You saw her fair, none else being by, Herself poised with herself, in either eye: But in that crystal scales let there be weighed Your lady's love against some other maid That I will show you shining at this feast, And she shall scant show well, that now shows best. --SHAKESPEARE.