possibility to warn the early
pedestrians who were approaching, so securely unconscious of the
impending crisis. They were to have parted as before at the Manoir
gate--to have parted for many months of separation--one to return to
England, the other to her nearer home, till such time as----. But the
whole prudential project was in a moment overset. The last winding of
the path was turned, and the advancing parties stood confronted! For a
moment, mute, motionless as statues--a smile of malicious triumph on the
countenances of Mesdemoiselles du Resnel--on that of their dignified
mother, a stern expression of concentrated wrath, inexorable,
implacable. But her speech was even more calm and deliberate than usual,
as she requested to know what business of importance had led the young
lady so far from her home at that early hour, and to what fortunate
chance she was indebted for the escort of Monsieur Barnard? The _grand
secret_ might still have been kept. Walter was about to speak--he
scarce knew what--perhaps to divulge _in part_--for to tell all
prematurely was ruin to them both. But before he could articulate a
word, Madame du Resnel repeated her interrogatory in a tone of more
peremptory sternness, and la petite Madelaine, trembling at this sound,
quailing under the cold and searching gaze that accompanied it, and all
unused to the arts of deception and prevarication, sank on her knees
where she had stopped at some distance from her incensed parent, and
faltered out with uplifted hands,--"Mais--mais, maman! je viens de me
marier!"

The truth was told--the full, the simple truth--and no sooner told than
Walter's better nature rejoiced at the disclosure, rejoiced at its
release from the debasing shackles imposed by worldly considerations,
and grateful to the young ingenuous creature whose impulsive honesty had
saved them both from perseverance in the dangerous paths of deception,
even at the cost of those important advantages which might have resulted
from a temporary concealment of their union. Tenderly raising and
supporting her he was now free to call his own in the sight of men and
angels, he drew her gently towards the incensed parent, the expected
storm of whose just wrath he prepared himself to meet respectfully, and
to deprecate with all due humility. But the preparation proved perfectly
unnecessary. Madame du Resnel, whose rigidity of feature had relaxed
into no change of line or muscle indicative of surprise or