On the last step he stumbled, but barely touching the ice with his hand, with a violent effort recovered himself, and skated off, laughing.

"How splendid, how nice he is!" Kitty was thinking at that time, as she came out of the pavilion with Mlle.

Linon, and looked towards him with a smile of quiet affection, as though he were a favorite brother.

" And can it be my fault, can I have done anything wrong? They talk of flirtation.

I know it's not he that I love; but still I am happy with him, and he's so jolly.