or perhaps the slight flush on

The change was conveyed ina mere hand-pressure, a brief exchange of words, for the aide-de-camp was hastening after a well-known dowager of the oldRoman world, whom he helped into a large coronetted broughamwhich looked as if it had been extracted, for some ceremonialpurpose, from a museum of historic vehicles. And in an instantit flashed on Lansing that this lady had been the person chosento lay the Prince's offer at Miss Hicks's feet. 　　The discovery piqued him; and instead of making straight for hisown room he went up to Mrs. Hicks's drawing-room. 　　The room was empty, but traces of elaborate tea pervaded it, and an immense bouquet of stiff roses lay on the centre table. Ashe turned away, Eldorada Tooker, flushed and tear-stained,abruptly entered. 　　"Oh, Mr. Lansing--we were looking everywhere for you.""Looking for me?""Yes. Coral especially ... she wants to see you. She wants youto come to her own sitting-room."She led him across the ante-chamber and down the passage to theseparate suite which Miss Hicks inhabited. On the thresholdEldorada gasped out emotionally: "You'll find her lookinglovely--" and jerked away with a sob as he entered. 　　Coral Hicks was never lovely: but she certainly lookedunusually handsome. Perhaps it was the long dress of blackvelvet which, outlined against a shaded lamp, made her strongbuild seem slenderer, or perhaps the slight flush on her duskycheek: a bloom of womanhood hung upon her which she made noeffort to dissemble. Indeed, it was one of her originalitiesthat she always gravely and courageously revealed the utmost ofwhatever mood possessed her. 　　"How splendid you look!" he said, smiling at her. 　　She threw her head back and gazed him straight in the eyes. 　　"That's going to be my future job.""To look splendid?""Yes.""And wear a crown?""And wear a crown ...."They continued to consider each other without speaking. Nick'sheart contracted with pity and perplexity.