e
of the first structures reared on the river. Have you ever heard any of
the traditions connected with it?"

"Oh, no," he smiled. "The Happy-Go-Lucky is quite a stranger to me. You
cherish up all its legends, though, I have no doubt. Are there any tales
of ghosts among them? I can easily imagine certain disembodied spirits
wandering through its narrow halls and up and down its winding
staircases."

"What spirits?" I asked, convinced, however, by his manner that he was
talking at random, with the probable aim of prolonging our walk within
view of the window behind which his darling might stand concealed.

"Madame must inform me. I have too little acquaintance with this country
to venture among its traditions."

"There is a story," I began; but here a finely modulated but piercing
voice rang musically down the paths from the house, and we heard:

"Your eyes will certainly suffer, Mrs. Truax, if you let the hot sun
glare upon them so mercilessly." And, turning, we saw madame's smiling
face looking from her casement with a meaning that struck us both dumb
and led me to shorten our walk lest my interest in the romance then
going on should be suspected and my usefulness thus become abridged.

Was it to forestall my suspicions, rid herself of my vigilance, or to
insure herself against any forgetfulness on her daughter's part, that
madame, some two hours later, sent me the following note:

"DEAR MRS. TRUAX: I can imagine that after your
walk in the blazing sunlight you do not feel
very well this evening. I must nevertheless
request of you a favor, my need being great and
you being the only person who can assist me.
The Marquis de la Roche-Guyon, with whom I saw
you promenading, has come to this place with
the express intention of paying court to my
daughter. As I am not prepared to frown upon
his suit, and equally unprepared to favor it, I
do not feel at liberty to refuse him the
pleasure of an interview with my daughter, and
yet do not desire them to enjoy such an
interview alone. As I am ill, quite ill, with a
sudden and excruciating attack of pain in my
right hip, may I ask if you will fulfill the
office of chaperon for me, and, without
embarrassment to either party, take such
measures as will prevent an absolute confidence
between them, till I have obtai