She was very fond of books, and one day a literary man asked her if she had read the new American novel that had created such a sensation. “No,” she replied, and he promised to bring her the book, saying laughingly that she ought to be better acquainted with the authors of her native land. She read the book, and was charmed with its clever delineations of character and its romantic and original plot. It was the work of a man of genius, and made a deep impression on the mind of Fair; yet, strangely enough, she did not think of glancing at the title page to find out the name of the author. She told her literary friend how much she admired the book, and then he said: “By the way, the author is in London at present. He crossed the ‘big pond’ a few days ago to look after the interests of his book, which was published here simultaneously with its appearance in New York. I have had the pleasure of an introduction. Would you like for me to bring him to call?” “I--I don’t know,” she said, pursing her lips dubiously. “Would he be interesting, do you think?” “All the ladies who have seen him declare that he is more charming than his book.” “Young?” “On the sunny side of thirty.” “Oh, how pleasant! I wish I were smart enough to write a book.” Her English friend laughed at her Yankee phrase, “smart,” then asked: “May I bring him?” “Please do; I want to see if he looks like his hero,” she replied, with awakened interest, and that day she told her adopted mother that Mr. Converse was going to bring the American author to call. “What is his name?” “I have forgotten--that is, I don’t believe I ever looked in the book to see.” “Look now,” said Mrs. Howard. But at that moment the Fraynes, their traveling companions, were announced, and the American author was forgotten in an animated discussion of the Italian winter they were going to have. The Fraynes--who consisted of a father and mother, a son who was in love with Fair, and two pretty daughters--had consented to be the guests of Mrs. Howard at the prince’s villa. It was on the evening of a day two days later that a small party of sociable people were gathered in Mrs. Howard’s drawing-room, when their number was suddenly swelled by the appearance of Mr. Converse and a gentleman whom he introduced to Mrs. Howard and the company as Mr. Lorraine. Fair had not yet come down. She had gone to her room after dinner, to change her dinner dress, that had been soiled with gravy by an awkward waiter.