ften felt much annoyed by Lisette's assumption of her rights, was
glad to mortify her. Lisette and Mimi had both been somewhat spoilt as
the two youngest, and the extraordinary beauty of Lisette made her still
a favourite and often a successful competitor over Mimi with their
parents. And now, this rivalship was manifested by the eager desire of
the child to repeat what she knew would vex her sister. "Uncle Dorsain,"
were her words, "ask my mother if she might not have had my three sisters
chosen together, instead of Felicie Durand."

"That she might!" exclaimed Durocher, proudly, but with an air of
vexation; "and had you, Mimi, been Victorine, that triumph would have
been obtained by our family. Most anxious is Monsieur le Prieur, brother
Dorsain, for the conversion of Victorine: it is astonishing what pains
the good father has taken with the girl; and it is only a few weeks ago
he came here to assure her he would secure the crown to her if she would
attend mass regularly. The girl obstinately refused the offer, and it
was in anger that he left us."

"And wherefore did she refuse?" inquired Dorsain.

"It was all obstinate folly," replied Valmont; "she declared herself
happy without it; and even went so far as to quote Scripture against the
fete of the Rose."

"What could she say?" demanded the quiet Dorsain, all astonishment.

"She said what is very true!" exclaimed Mimi; "she told us it would make
us unhappy and dissatisfied with each other, and the words she used from
Scripture, uncle Dorsain, were these: 'Follow peace with all men, and
holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord; lest any root of
bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.'"

"And she called the fete of the Rosiere a root of bitterness!" exclaimed
Lisette. "Did you ever hear such nonsense, uncle?"

"I do not think it nonsense," said Mimi; "I think Victorine was very
right."

"You are too young to judge Mimi;" replied Lisette, "when you are as old
as Monsieur le Prieur, you will probably agree with a wise man in
preference to a young girl of seventeen."

Mimi, in warmth, took up Victorine's cause; and it was with some
difficulty their father silenced them; but the quiet D'Elsac was much
struck with what had passed, and his eyes were gradually opening to the
fact that Victorine was indeed right, and that the root of bitterness was
springing up in the family of his sister.

When once the idea was raised, he