isitors at once, saying that they
would not answer his purpose for the arrangements of which he had meant
to speak with them. They were not, however, let off so easily as they
had now begun to hope. The young man asked some questions from the
window, which put it into the Count's head to ask more, till Randolphe
thought it prudent not to keep back his story, but to request the
Count's consent to Marie's marriage, as if that had been his own part of
his errand this morning.

The Count evidently cared nothing about the matter, and would have given
his consent as a matter of course, if his son Casimir had been anywhere
but in the room. As it was, there were so many questions, the inquiries
about Charles were so minute, that Marie grew vexed and angry, and by a
look invited her father to say something about the Count's time and be
gone. The youth who was reading certainly pitied her, for he said,
without raising his eyes from his newspaper,--

"Be quiet, Casimir. Casimir, how can you? Do leave these poor people
to make themselves happy their own way. It is no concern of yours."

"It is my father's concern that his people should not live on his land
when they cannot do service for it. Why, it appears they have not
anything like a cottage to go to. My father cannot look to them for
anything. You see, sir, you can depend upon them for nothing, in their
present circumstances: and I do not see how you can consent to their
marrying yet. If this fellow Charles, now, would do his duty, and serve
for three years, there would be some chance for their settling
comfortably afterwards. They would lose nothing by waiting, if they
settled comfortably at last."

"Please your lordship," said Randolphe, in a hoarse voice, "they have
waited so very long already, and there is no prospect--"

He glanced at Marie to see how she bore this. She seemed to be just
falling; and he drew her arm within his, to keep her up.

"We will take care that there is a prospect," said Casimir. "We do not
intend to lose sight of you. We may do some kind things for Marie."

Marie tried to speak; but before she could utter a sentence, the Count
discovered that the valet had arrived at the last bow of the pig-tail,
and that he must make a decision, and conclude this interview. He
therefore pronounced that Charles should be sent on military service for
three years, and gave orders to the bailiff to see that the young man
was brought in for the p