e one will come. You--you--"

"Tut! do not mind me! Answer what I ask. Could you see the marquis--talk
to him, hear him urge his love and plead for yours, without forgetting
that your obedience is mine, and that you are not to give him so much as
the encouragement of a glance, till I either give you permission to do
so or command from you his immediate and unqualified dismissal?"

"See him?" It was all the poor girl had heard.

"Yes; see him. You have come from Paris--why not he? Since Dubois has
proved himself a traitor--"

"Oh, mamma!" came now in great sobs, "you are not playing with me. He
has come; he is here; the horse I heard stop at the door--"

"Was that of the marquis," acknowledged the mother. "He is in the
sitting room, child, but he does not expect you at present. This evening
you shall see him if you will promise me what I have asked. Otherwise he
must go. I will have no complications arising out of a secret betrothal.
If you have not sufficient strength--"

"Oh, I have strength, mamma! I have strength. Only let me see him, and
prove to myself that he is not worn by trouble and suspense, and I will
do all you ask of me. Ah, how well I feel! What a beautiful--what a
lovely day this is! Must I not go out till evening? May I not take one
wee walk in the garden?"

"Not one, my child. At nine o'clock you may go to the sitting room for a
half hour. Till then, think over what I have said, and prepare your lips
to be dumb and your eyes to remain downcast; for I am firm in my
demands, and nothing will make me change them."

"You may trust me." There was despair in the tones now....

As they talked but little after this, and as I was greatly interested in
seeing the young man who had been heralded by such glowing descriptions,
I stole back to my room, and, putting on a green shade, hastened to join
my guests in the front part of the house. One glance from beneath my
hurriedly uplifted shade was sufficient to assure me as to which of the
gentlemen there assembled was the one I sought. So frank a face, so fine
a form, so attractive a manner, were not often seen in my inn, and
prepossessed at once in his favor, I advanced to the owner of all these
graces, and, calling him by name, bade him welcome to my house.

He must understand our language well, for he immediately turned with
gentle urbanity, and discerning, perhaps, something in my face which
assured him of my sympathy and respect, entered into a fluent