only woman who has shown an interest in my work"... And when

we rose to dance, he asked me to receive him at our house from time to time, when his engagements allowed.. He found pleasure in the ever-changing guests at our home; and one day he stayed on even after the guests had gone, and dinner time came without his noticing the passage of time, so I asked him to join us at dinner that night; and he then shared in many of the dishes he relished, asking for more of them.

It was as if he chose the evenings on which Ernest worked at home: Ernest would excuse himself from staying with us, and the field would be clear for the Prince to talk of his new projects, the growth of his plantings, or the latest American records. And on our visits to the Fort, he would single me out for his company apart from all the other ladies.

Thelma returned to England at the beginning of spring, and it was as if something had happened between her and the Prince. She came once to the Fort, but the old relation had faded; and she came to me one day in the most wretched state and told me that the Prince was avoiding the sight of her without any reason: he would not speak to her himself on the telephone, nor invite her to the Fort. At last she begged me to tell her plainly how far the attachment with the Prince went.. I had been expecting such a question, and so I answered her frankly: I told her that he liked me with the affection of friendship, and I assured her that this did not mean he was in love with me..