[Illustration: _Her child eyes were still upon him and seemed to ask for something yet. And, at this, he bent and kissed her gently, as he would have kissed a child, and did not guess that, at the touch of his lips, Sidonia’s woman’s soul was born_. (See page 196.)]
AUTHORS OF "ROSE OF THE WORLD," "FRENCH NAN," ETC., ETC.
"_Si jeunesse savait..._ _Si vieillesse pouvait!_" (_Old French Song_)
COPYRIGHT, 1906, BY THE MACMILLAN COMPANY.
Set up and electrotyped. Published April, 1906.
Norwood Press J. S. Cushing & Co.—Berwick & Smith Co. Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.
I. The Vagabond II. The Forest House III. Green Adventure IV. Parting of the Ways V. The Invitation of the Road VI. The Burg VII. Guests of Chance VIII. Roses of Trianon IX. Home-Coming X. The Burgrave’s Welcome XI. Tangled Tales XII. The Burgrave’s Farewell XIII. The *Oubliette* XIV. Love among the Ruins XV. *Furens quid Femina Possit* XVI. ’Twixt Cup and Lip XVII. The Skirt of War XVIII. The Raid XIX. The Melody in the Violets XX. The True Reading of a Letter XXI. At the Mock Versailles XXII. The *Cabinet Noir* XXIII. The King’s Mail XXIV. Portents XXV. The Perverseness of Words XXVI. The Ways of Little Courts XXVII. The Song of the Woods XXVIII. A Treacherous Haven XXIX. The Homing Bird XXX. Dawn Music
Her child eyes were still upon him and seemed to ask for something yet. And, at this, he bent and kissed her gently, as he would have kissed a child . . . _Frontispiece_
"The something that lived on, the miserable carcass, the old man—call it myself, if you will"
But, as the oncomer drew nearer, the glimmer of hope died in the discontented gentleman’s heart
As she bent, offering him the green goblet of wine, her heavy plait fell against his shoulder
"Look, look, do you see? ... There are two men coming up the road with a pack-horse!"
"The high-born, my mistress, had not expected you before to-morrow," said the butler with a deep bow
Meanwhile, up in his chamber, the Burgrave sat in sodden brooding
Steven almost called aloud, as he heard their heavy plunge into the ambushed waters
Sidonia stood, shaking and pruning herself like a bird, her hair glinting in the light
"Spread your dark wings, obscene birds! ... the scent of Death is in the air. In a little while you may gorge! ... caw—caw!"