The girl laughed, but the laugh had a mocking sound, so did her voice as she exclaimed: "Suppose I tell you that I was once taught that lesson by another? Will you give over talking to me then of what could never be?" "Azalia--Miss Brooke!" "It is true," she answered, in a bitter tone. "You love another!" he exclaimed, despairingly. "Nay, nay; I loved once! Put it in the past tense, please!" she interrupted; and even where he sat, Laurie Meredith could hear the deep sigh that heaved her breast as she added, in a voice of passionate self-scorn: "I should hate myself could I love him still, false and fickle as he proved to be!" Lord Clive stared at her in the most profound amazement, startled by her unwonted emotion, but the agitated voice went on: "Yes, look at me in wonder. You have thought me cold and heartless because I turned a deaf ear to lovers. It is due to you that I confess the truth. I have no heart to give, because it was wiled from me long ago by one who valued it but for a little while, then flung it carelessly away!" "Impossible!" he exclaimed, in the greatest wonder. "It is true," she answered; and the pathos of her voice went to Laurie Meredith's heart. "It was when you were an American girl?" asked Lord Clive. "Yes, before Lord Ivon sent Mr. Kelso to seek me," said Azalia Brooke. "And now you know why I despise love and lovers, Lord Clive. I have no faith in their protestations, because I know how to rate them." "You do injustice to honest lovers for the sake of one traitor," he said, warmly. "Miss Brooke, he deserves death at the stake. Tell me his name that I may call him out and shoot him!" A dreary, mocking laugh rippled over her lips as she answered, simply: "Perhaps he is past your vengeance, Lord Clive. I heard long ago that he was dead." "It is some comfort to know that he has gone to his reward," murmured Lord Clive, with grim satisfaction. He looked a moment curiously at her agitated face, then said: "I thank you for giving me your confidence, Miss Brooke. Rest assured I shall respect it. And you will permit me to express the sentiment that the fellow must have been ice itself to turn cold to you." She did not reply, and he continued: "But all that was in the past. You look back with scorn upon your fickle lover. Let me teach you to forget him in a new love. Be my bride, and no wife was ever worshiped as shall be Azalia, Countess of Clive!" "I thought you would not tease me any more when you heard my story," she said, pensively; but he vowed that this only made him more determined to win her for his own. "You have loved before--what does it matter?" he said. "There are few who do not fancy themselves in love at an early stage of existence. This first love, what is it but the light froth on the wave, shining brightly a moment, then dissolving forever. I would be contented to be your last love, dear, to have you say to me: