elegance as if it had been served in Paris; and the various Albanian, Negro; and Turkish attendants gave the entertainment an Arabian-like effect, heightened by the Eastern character of the confectionery and the Eastern fruits and flowers. The still lingering sunset glow was shut out, and the chamber was illumined with wax-lights in crystal or in candelabra at every point; everything about her spoke of no ordinary wealth, and had the air, moreover, of habitual luxury, even of habitual extravagance. It might be only surface deep; but that surface, at least, was brilliant.
"My table is round, like Arthur's," said Idalia, with a smile, as she sank into her chair. "There should be no precedence at a dinner-table: equality, at least, should exist over soups and entreés!"
"Where the Countess Vassalis is, can there fail to be a place of honour?
She laughed softly:
"You would have me say, like the O'Donoghue, 'Where I am, is the head of the table.' That was a truer and haughtier pride than would have lain in a struggle for precedence. The answer always pleased me."
"And yet you are for equality, Madame?" said
