noticed them standing at the mouth of
what I call the "yawning cave," hesitating
gently, she looking in with the strangest
air of curiosity, half in amazement, half
in awe. Then I see them go in, and somehow
that seems, by a sort of instinct, to be
for me the beginning of something that
would end tragically. The look of supreme
happiness seemed, I suppose, to imply a
contrast and supplement of disaster. In
half an hour I saw them come back, she
triumphant, fluttering—he with a complacent
and boyish smile, looking at something
bright in his hand. She skipped
and danced and clapped her hands. I supposed
they had won. They were children,
and I had a surprising interest in them—I
know not why .... I dined to-day at the
Four Seasons Hotel, which at these places,
is always said to be a most gay and festive
looking hotel, with orange trees in front,
and a kind of scene-painting air. So an
old gentleman, who had been all round the
watering places, told me. He could not account
for it, he said, but "there it was."
I accounted for it to him by the invincible
power of names. Give a girl, I said, a pretty
and romantic name, like Geraldine, or
Dorcas, or Violet, and she will be sure in
some degree to fall into the key of that pretty
music. He did not seem to see it, but
grunted and moved away from me. Another
man said, "he supposed it paid,"
which did not touch the matter. Their
table d'hôtes are certainly the most festive
way of eating a dinner. There is such
variety in the faces, such pretty, intellectual,
stupid, heavy faces—faces, indeed,
that seem to have been turned all day long
towards that dinner, and wistfully expecting
it. A long narrow room, yet so bright
and airy, and looking on the street; I can
fancy nothing so cheerful. Every one is in
good humour; and even the waiters have
a festive air, principally, I believe, from
their being boys and boyish, as is the
custom here, and not the mouldy, ancient,
clumsy- legged, clumsy- fingered veterans
who do duty with us. And what a good
dinner—what a choice of wine, instead of
our limited sherry, and claret, and " Bass."
The little flasks dot the table down. The
affenthaler ordinary, but good; the yellow
hocks, infinite in variety; the better Assmanhauser,
and the hockheimer sparkling,
all at such moderate prices. I see complete
families pour in, and take up position in line,
father, stout mother, pleasant daughters,
and the conceited son. Then the dinner
sets in like a torrent; all those pleasan
German dishes. Those vegetables which we
know not of in England, and best of all,
those delicious fowls, wherewith arrives
the late but welcome salad. It does seem
to me that it arrives at the precise and
fitting moment, with a pleasant sense of expectancy
going before it, he and his friend,
the fowl. My dear Dora will hardly think
that this can be her old invalid that is
speaking.

On this day I find myself seated next to
the little husband and wife of the morning,
who come in full of delight and satisfaction
and smiling, they know not why. I confess
I am glad to be near so much innocence,
and also on account of a little
scheme I have in view. With such a pair,
it is not difficult to begin a conversation.
They were glad of the sympathy. My dear
Dora knows that my stock of French is tolerably
respectable, and that I can put it to
fair use. They spoke together, and told
me everything about themselves. They
were not rich, but had enough. They were
enjoying themselves so. It was the most
delicious place in the world. " It was
Heaven itself," she  said; "and do you
know," she added, " all the money we
made—that is, he made—to-day, and so
easily—eight napoleons; and out of it he
bought me this sweet little brooch." And
she showed on her breast what was certainly
a very charming little ornament.
This naïveté and her agreeable prattle
began to interest me a great deal; but I
could see there was in him a certain boyish
self-sufficiency—a latent idea that this
gaming success was chiefly owing to his own
cleverness. He talked very wisely about
the principles. I quietly ventured to hint
that luck might change, as it did so often
and so fatally. But he only laughed. Just
as dinner was nearly over, a friend sent in
to him; he went out, and I was left with
the charming little wife. Something inspired
me to seize the opportunity and
give a little warning to this interesting
young creature.

"Your husband," I said, " seems quite
excited about his success; but may I give
you a piece of advice? This beginning
ends always in the same way. You know
not how fatal is this spell, once it gets any
influence. This rage for play, if it takes
possession of any one, destroys all else—love,
happiness, everything else. I know it, and
every one here knows it." This way of
putting it was a little artful, and I saw it
had great effect. The pretty face looked a
little scared. I went on. " I speak sincerely
and in your interest, though I am a
mere stranger; and I do advise you and