illingly consented to postpone his customary equestrian exercise, and was sauntering in the garden, wondering over the caprice that prompted his father to desire his presence at t

e-door, and aided the Marc

d her triumphant certainty of the execution done, glided past him into the drawing-room, almost disappearing in a cloud of lac

y unheard. Ere long, she winningly unfolded the object of her visit. Her brother, the young Duke de Montauban, had prayed her to become his ambassador. He recently had the felicity of meeting the niece of the Countess de Gramont, Mademoiselle Bertha de M

ness. The count half rose from his seat, white with vexation, then sat down again, an

r her actions or inclinations. Her uncle, the Marquis de Merrivale, who is her guardian, i

rted, recovered herself more quickly than her son, and answered, w

ld be desired for my niece; but, as my son has remarked, her guardian is very punctilious respecting his rights, and would not tolerate an interference with he

ughly vexed, and why his grandmother made such an effort to con

emotion of any kind, except by gently tapping the ground with the exquisi

! I was misinformed, and I knew that your ch

ard, though the day was far from sultry, she dismissed the subject by aski

ed, as though she were making a reverence in a quadrille of the Lancers, and the lace cloud softly fl

ary proposals made for Bertha by the Marchioness de Fleury had been so definitely declined, adding, "If m

lips, and strode u

re acceptable to herself; but here she comes, and I have a few words to say to her in p

t a significant g

left the room a

ide in silence. Finding that his father did not see

is over, I shall take my postponed ri

d the count. "Can you conceive no reason why we did not for one

will allow me to say so, common courtesy seemed to demand

ions are already engaged

but it is hardly possible,-she is so y

if I am not mistaken, her choice is one t

unsuspiciously. "Whom, then, d

ount, in a tone of irritation, "since he

mazement, but paused, unwilling to finish his

lking by my side, who has learned to interpret Gre

on me a cousinly regard," answered Maurice, evidently more surpri

her sentiments. What this alliance would be to our falling house, I need not represent; it is not even necessary that you should enter into the merits

ightful companion," answered Maurice, as though he ec

all you co

sire as-as-as a sist

t, angrily. "Are you dreaming, that you pore upon the

to speak, but hesitated, dubiou

unt we

cannot treat her affection with disdain. Promise me that you will at once have an understanding

understanding with her,-I will have!"

y, or to-morrow at the latest,-before this ball takes p

into my head which would make suspense intolerable. I will speak to her without loss of time

t once appeared, leading the horse. The viscount vaulted upon its bac

p his word; and, if he did, it would be impossible for him to introduce this delicate subject without compromising himself,-nay, without positively

he young girl's hands, and talking to her earnestly. Bertha's countenance wore an expression of maidenly confusion and perpl