nded away. Madeleine
would have followed, but Maurice seized her hand detainingly.

"One moment, Madeleine,--grant me one moment!"

"Not now. Bertha will be waiting for me!" And she made an effort to free
her imprisoned hand.

"You shall tell her that you were taken captive, and she will forgive
you, if it be only for the sake of your _jailer_. There's vanity for
you!"

"But my arrangements for this evening are not all completed. It is
growing late, Maurice; I entreat you to release me; I _cannot_ remain--I
_must_ go!"

"Not until I have spoken to you. The time has come when you must hear
me."

Madeleine felt that there was no escape, and, forcing herself to assume
an air of composure, answered, "Speak, then; what can you have to say,
Maurice, to which I ought to listen?"

"Must I tell you? Have you not divined? Must I show you my heart? If no
responsive pulse in your own has revealed to you what is passing in
mine, I am truly unfortunate,--I have been deceived indeed!"

"Maurice, Maurice! for the love of Heaven"--

"You do well to say for the love of Heaven; for I love Heaven all the
better for loving a being who bears the impress of Heaven's own glorious
hand! Yes, Madeleine, ever loved,--loved from the first hour we met."

The rustling of silk interrupted his sentence. Madeleine tremblingly
withdrew her hand. The Countess de Gramont stood before them! Her tall
figure dilated until it seemed to shut out all the sunlight beyond; her
countenance grew ashy with suppressed rage; her black eyes shot out
glances that pierced like arrows; not a sound issued from her
tightly-compressed lips.

Maurice, recovering himself, tried to assume an unconcerned air, and
stooped to gather some of the ivy leaves scattered around him. Madeleine
bowed her head as a culprit who has no defence to make, and no hope of
concealment to cling to as a last refuge.

The countess broke the painful silence, speaking in a hollow, scornful
tone: "I am here at an unfortunate moment, it seems!"

There was no reply.

"Perhaps I ought to apologize for disturbing you," she continued,
sarcastically.

"Not at all--not at all," said Maurice, who felt that it was his duty to
answer and shield Madeleine, as far as possible, from his grandmother's
displeasure.

"Why, then, is Madeleine covered with confusion? Why did she so quickly
withdraw her hand? How--how came it clasped in yours?"

"Is she not my cousin?" answered Maurice, evasively. "