"You are General Winans' favorite, I know," returned the young man, smiling, and he said to himself that he applauded her father's taste. His betrothed was very beautiful and queenly, but her sister was the realization of a man's ideal of everything lovely and lovable. "I wonder if they thought of me moping here in the country!" continued Precious softly. "Yes, I am sure they did, for I heard your father saying to his wife that he had been thinking of you all the afternoon, and that he really must get away Saturday and spend Sunday with you at Rosemont." "Oh, I shall be so glad. I shall beg him to let me go home with him," she cried beamingly. "Didn't they send me any message by you, Lord Chester?" "They didn't know I was coming. It was after I had left them that evening I received the telegram from Earle to join him here for a day or two. I didn't have time to leave a note for Ethel; had to hustle to catch my train, you know. I can send her a line to-day." Earle sauntered back to them, saying: "I am going to the house now. Have some letters to write. Do you care to come now?" "Do you need me?" "Not for two hours yet." "Then I will stay here with your sister awhile longer, if she will let me. I am lazy to-day, and this _dolce far niente_ suits my mood exactly." "Stay, then, for you certainly look the perfection of indolence. Precious, you can bring him back when you get ready." He turned away and then Norah called: "I must go back, too." "I am coming presently," Precious answered coaxingly, as she pulled Kay's ears. Lord Chester picked up her book from the grass. "You were reading. Perhaps I disturb you?" interrogatively. "You may read to me, if you will. I should like it very much," she answered, leaning her golden head back against the tree, her eyes half closed and dreamy, a pensive smile on her rosebud lips. Seen thus she looked adorable. He gazed at her earnestly and felt as if he would give the world to kiss those exquisite crimson lips. Then he pulled himself together with a pang. He was betrothed to Ethel. What right had he to feel his heart throb faster at the sight of her sister's beauty? Those luscious pouting lips were not for him. The little blue book opened at random in his hand. His eyes fell on a suggestive line: "Devils laugh when mortals kiss." The young man started and trembled. Then he read on: "Alas, and who shall count the cost Of human souls for love's sake lost? For peasant's hut and kingly crown, And rural dell and stately town, And vineyards ripening in the sun, And kingdoms by the strong arm won, And armies marshaled for the fray, Have been overthrown and swept away, Betrayed and wrecked and lost for this, The needless harvest of a kiss!" He was silent so long that the dreamy, half-shut eyes unclosed and looked at him in wonder. "Are you not going to read?" she asked in a tone of disappointment.