On the contrary, the delicate milky whiteness of her cheeks, which before had been a golden brown, lent her a new, soft charm. The great, narrow, long-lashed eyes with the heavily drooping lids--those improbable Lilly eyes--now had a weary, languishing brilliance, as if they veiled all the painful riddles of the universe. Moreover, the last year had given back to her the slim, regal figure of her maiden days and taken away the womanly peacefulness it had acquired at Lischnitz. No wonder that many a head turned after her and many an appreciative, envious glance was sent askance at her companion, who was considerably shorter than she. Mr. Dehnicke was aware of all this, and being a staid, respectable business man, and not wishing to be the object of gossip, he preferred to stay indoors with her. About the middle of February she received an invitation by mail from Mr. Kellermann, whom she had not seen for several months. GREAT CARNIVAL KELLERMANN STUDIO Magic Lantern Show, Flirtation, Opportunity for Crimes Passionels, Cream Kisses, and other Attractions That seemed like distraction enough, and Mr. Dehnicke, who, it happened, had also been invited, was so energetic in his persuasions that he finally conquered her timidity and induced her to go. But when the day for the carnival came Lilly was seized by a great dread of it, and at the last moment felt like withdrawing from her engagement. She saw herself running the gauntlet of a gaping crowd of sardonic sneerers, who whispered the story of her rise and fall behind her back. She saw herself neglected and avoided, the object of derisive side glances. She passed through all the tortures of the déclassées, who must drag through life with the mark of the sinner caught in the act branded on their brows. She chose the most beautiful of her Dresden dresses, which in the two years had grown to be the very height of fashion. It was a white Empire gown embroidered with gold vines. She arranged a narrow bracelet in her hair like a diadem, and loosely laid over her head an oriental veil shot with threads of gold. In case of need it would serve to conceal the bareness of her bosom. When she had completed her toilet, she seemed to herself so repulsive and conspicuous that this alone was sufficient ground for not showing herself. She did not venture to cherish a faint hope until her friend came to fetch her. He saw her, and held on to the door knob, uttering a slight cry of astonishment. "Am I all right?" she asked with a diffident laugh, which entreated encouragement. Instead of replying he ran up and down the room breathing heavily and choking over inarticulate words--a mute language which Lilly immediately understood. While sitting beside him in the coupé, she succumbed to another attack of dread. "You will stay right next to me, won't you?" she implored. "You won't leave me, and you won't let a stranger speak to me, will you?"