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ng over the floor； then； erect upon the tips of her toes； supported in the air only by her extended arms； her face lifted in an elusive pose； which left nothing visible but the smile； she advanced quickly towards the light or fled away with little rushes so rapid that you were constantly expecting to hear a slight shivering of glass and to see her thus mount backward the slope of the great moonbeam that lay aslant the studio。 That which added a charm； a singular poetry； to this fantastic ballet was the absence of music； the sound alone of the rhythmical beat the force of which was accentuated by the semi…darkness； of that quick and light tapping not heavier on the parquet floor than the fall； petal by petal； of a dahlia going out of bloom。
Thus it went on for some minutes； at the end of which they knew； by hearing her shorter breathing； that she was becoming fatigued。
〃Enough！ enough！ Sit down now；〃 said Felicia。 Thereupon the little white shadow halted beside an easy chair； and there remained posed； ready to start off again； smiling and breathless； until sleep overcame her； rocking and balancing her gently without disturbing her pretty pose； as of a dragon…fly on the branch of a willow dipping in the water and swayed by the current。
While they watched her； dozing on her easy chair：
〃Poor little fairy！〃 said Felicia； 〃hers is what I have had best and most serious in my life in the way of friendship； protection； and guardianship。 Can you wonder now at the zig…zags； the erratic nature of my mind？ Fortunate at that； to have gone no further。〃
And suddenly； with a joyous effusion of feeling：
〃Ah； Minerva； Minerva； I am very glad that you came this evening！ But you must not leave me to myself for so long again； mind。 I need to have near me an honest mind like yours； to see a true face among the masks that surround me。 A fearful /bourgeois/； all the same；〃 she added； laughing； 〃and a provincial into the bargain。 But no matter！ It is you； for all that； whom it gives me the most pleasure to see。 And I believe that my liking for you is due especially to one thing： you remind me of some one who was the great affection of my youth； a sedate and sensible little being she also； chained to the matter…of… fact side of existence； but tempering it with that ideal element which we artists set aside exclusively for the profit of our work。 Certain things which you say seem to me as though they had come from her。 You have the same mouth； like an antique model's。 Is it that that gives this resemblance to your words？ I have no idea； but most certainly you are like each other。 You shall see。〃
On the table laden with sketches and albums； at which she was sitting facing him； she drew； as she talked； with brow inclined and her rather wild curly hair shading her graceful little head。 She was no longer the beautiful couchant monster； with the anxious and gloomy countenance； condemning her own destiny； but a woman； a true woman； in love； and eager to beguile。 This time Paul forgot all his mistrusts in presence of so much sincerity and such passing grace。 He was about to speak； to persuade。 The minute was decisive。 But the door opened and the little page appeared。 M。 le Duc had sent to inquire whether mademoiselle was still suffering from her headache of earlier in the evening。
〃Still just as much；〃 she said with irritation。
When the servant had gone out； a moment of silence fell between them； a glacial coldness。 Paul had risen。 She continued her sketch； with her head still bowed。
He took a few paces in the studio； then； having come back to the table； he asked quietly； astonished to feel himself so calm：
〃It was the Duc de Mora who was to have dined here？〃
〃Yes。 I was boreda day of spleen。 Days of that kind are bad for me。〃
〃Was the duchess to have come？〃
〃The duchess？ No。 I don't know her。〃
〃Well； in your place I would never receive in my house； at my table； a married man whose wife I did not meet。 You complain of being deserted； why desert yourself？ When one is without reproach； one should avoid the very suspicion of it。 Do I vex you？〃
〃No； no； scold me； Minerva。 I have no objection to your ethics。 They are honest and frank； yours； they do not blink uncertain； like those of Jenkins。 I told you； I need some one to guide me。〃
And tossing over to him the sketch which she had just finished：
〃See； that is the friend of whom I was speaking to you。 A profound and sure affection； which I was foolish enough to allow to be lost to me； like the bungler I am。 She it was to whom I appealed in moments of difficulty； when a decision required to be taken； some sacrifice made。 I used to say to myself； 'What will she think of this？' just as we artists may stop in the midst of a piece of work to refer it mentally to some great man； one of our masters。 I must have you take her place for me。 Will you？〃
Paul did not answer。 He was looking at the portrait of Aline。 It was she； herself to the letter； her pure profile； her mocking and kindly mouth； and the long curl like a caress on the delicate neck。 Felicia had ceased to exist for him。
Poor Felicia； endowed with superior talents； she was indeed like those magicians who knot and unknot the destinies of men； without possessing any power over their own happiness。
〃Will you give me this sketch？〃 he said in a low； quivering voice。
〃Most willingly。 She is niceisn't she？ Ah！ her indeed； if you should meet； love her； marry her。 She is worth more than all the rest of womankind together。 And yet； failing herfailing her〃
And the beautiful sphinx； tamed； raised to him； moist and laughing； her great eyes； in which an enigma had ceased to be indecipherable。
THE EXHIBITION
〃SUPERB！〃
〃A tremendous success！ Barye has never done anything so good before。〃
〃And the bust of the Nabob！ What a marvel。 How happy Constance Crenmitz is！ Look at her trotting about！〃
〃What！ That little old lady in the ermine cape is the Crenmitz？ I thought she had been dead twenty years ago。〃
Oh； no！ Very much alive； on the contrary。 Delighted； made young again by the triumph of her goddaughter； who had made what is decidedly the success of the exhibition； she passes about among the crowd of artists and fashionable people； who； wedged together and stifling themselves in order to get a look at the two points where the works sent by Felicia are exhibited； form as it were two solid masses of black backs and jumbled dresses。 Constance； ordinarily so timid； edges her way into the front rank； listens to the discussions； catches； as they fly； disjointed phrases； formulas which she takes care to remember； approves with a nod； smiles； raises her shoulders when she hears a stupid remark made； inclined to murder the first person who should not admire。
Whether it be the good Crenmitz or another； you will always see it at every opening of the /Salon/； that furtive silhouette； prowling near wherever a conversation is going on； with an anxious manner and alert ear； sometimes a simple old fellow； some father； whose glance thanks you for any kind word said in passing； or assumes a grieved expression by reason of some epigram； flung at the work of art； that may wound some heart behind you。 A figure n