THE STEADFAST HEART
ment, radiantly lovely with a sort of elfin loveliness; she sparkled, she flashed, an embodiment of wonderful, girlish life. When she moved it was not by a process requiring muscles of a material body, but by some more graceful means known only to the fairies themselves…. She met her guests just within the gate, welcomed them, cried out at their gifts. She was dressed in pink….
“You look—fine,” young Crane whispered cautiously. In Rainbow one pays compliments cautiously, for one is not used to tendering that medium of exchange.
“Of course I do,” Lydia said. “I spent two hours dressing. Isn’t it lovely?… Put your things in the room at the head of the stairs.”
Angus Burke had not appeared, was not as yet missed by his busy, excited hostess. He delayed his appearance as long as he dared, shortening by as much as might be ventured the time of his suffering—for he knew he was about to suffer. At last he forced himself to approach the gate, stopped with his hand on its post and looked at the scene, striving to compel himself to enter…. As he stood so Lydia saw him, abruptly left her companion and hurried to him.
“Angus,” she cried, “come in…. I’m so glad you came.”
He followed her to the house, looking reso-
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