And, kindly, romantic souls that they were, they took a keen, womanly delight in this incipient love-affair. Miss Farnham had saved Mr. Mountcastle's life, and in novel-lore this romantic incident always led up to love and marriage. It was noon the next day before Nita saw Azalea. A bewitching golden-haired vision in a white morning-gown, with floating blue ribbons, that matched the color of her large, turquoise-blue eyes, and brought out clearly the rose-pink tinting of her soft skin--this was the fairy that floated into Nita's room alone, and murmured gushingly: "How do you do, Miss Farnham? Mama has been trying to keep me out, saying that you were too ill to be disturbed. But you must not mind me, will you? I am only Azalea! May I call you Nita?" Dropping suddenly on her knees, she kissed Nita's feverish cheek. "I love you, you brave heroine!" she cried. Nita could only smile, for Azalea gave her no chance to speak. She went on cooingly: "I want to whisper a sweet secret to you, dear. I love you already, because--well, because you saved Dorian's life. When I came yesterday and found him here, I almost fainted with surprise and joy. Do you understand, Nita? Dorian and I were--lovers--once--but afterward we were cruelly parted. But now, we have made it up, and are happy. But only think, dearest, if you had not saved his life that night I should have gone mourning him all my days. God bless you, Nita." Strange that those words of blessing almost sounded like a curse in Nita's ears. She shrank from the red lips that again caressed her cheek, and murmured coldly: "Pray, take a seat, Miss Courtney." "Do I weary you, poor dear?" sinking gracefully into an arm-chair. "Oh, how dreadfully ill you look; I suppose you will be in bed for weeks." "I am going to sit up to-morrow." "Surely not so soon, dear. I don't think mama will permit you." "I beg your pardon, I shall not ask her leave, Lizette is my nurse"--quietly. "But I thought mama ought to be consulted. She is your chaperon, you know"--wheedingly. "I am very wilful, Miss Courtney, and intend to have my own way. I am better, and there is no need of my remaining in bed longer than to-morrow. Then, too, I have a guest, you should remember, and courtesy demands that I should greet him as soon as possible." "Although a perfect stranger to you. But, perhaps, mama will not consider it correct form for you to visit the invalid," almost sneered Azalea. "You have called on him, I presume"--pointedly. "Why, of course"--flushing slightly--"but that is very different. I have known Dorian a long time." "Ah, and I saved his life," replied Nita quietly. Their glances met, the artful blue ones, the defiant black ones--in their hearts they knew themselves sworn foes. Nita saw through the girl before her, her artfulness, her assumptions, and despised her already.