It was a few sprays of dew-wet forget-me-nots! Her heart seemed to stop beating.
Forget-me-not! there was but one person who had any association in her mind with that flower. Did this have a meaning relating to him? or was it only chance?
She said nothing to Madame Blanc about the silent message in the bottom of the box.
All that day she moved as in a dream. At times she was oppressed by the terror of discovery, and again it was with a rebellious, delicious feeling of certainty that he had not forgotten! He had searched for her––found her! She meant to ignore him if they should meet; certainly she must do that! His assurance in daring to––yet––yes, she rather liked the daring––still–––!
She remembered some one saying that impertinence gained more favors from women than respect, and he––yes, certainly he was impertinent; she must never recognize him, of course––never! Her cheek burned as she fancied what he must think of her––a girl who made friends with strangers in the park! Yet she was glad that since he had not let her forget, he also had been forced to remember.
She told herself all this, and much more; the task occupied so much of her time that she forgot to go asleep that night, and she saw the morning star shine out of the blue haze beyond the city, and it belonged to a dawn with a meaning entirely its own. Never before or after was a daybreak so beautiful. The sun wheeled royally into view through the atmosphere of her first veritable love romance.
CHAPTER VI.
Even the card of Lieutenant McVeigh could not annoy her that morning. He came with some message to the dowager from his mother. At any other time the sound of his name would have made a discord for her. The prejudices of Judithe were so decided, and so independent of all accepted social rules, that the dowager hoped when she did choose a husband he would prove a diplomat––they would need one in the family.