lle," said he, coming up to me, and speaking in a
tremulous voice, "but--yes, you must be Valerie."

"Yes, dear Auguste," cried I, opening my arms.

He rushed to me and covered me with kisses, and then staggering to a
chair, sat down and wept. So did I, and so did Lionel, for sympathy and
company.

"Why did you conceal this from me, Lionel?" said he after a time; "see
how you have unmanned me."

"I only obeyed orders, Auguste," replied Lionel; "but, now that I have
executed my commission, I will leave you together, for you must have
much to say to each other. I will join you at dinner-time."

Lionel went out and left us together; we renewed our embraces, and after
we were more composed, entered into explanations. I told him my history
in as few words as possible, promising to enter into details afterwards,
and then I inquired about the family. Auguste replied, "I will begin
from the time of your disappearance. No one certainly had any suspicion
of Madame d'Albret having spirited you away; indeed, she was, as you
know, constantly at the barracks till my father left, and expressed her
conviction that you had destroyed yourself. The outcry against your
mother was universal; she dared not show herself, and your father was in
a state to excite compassion. Four or five times a day did he take his
melancholy walk down to the Morgue to ascertain if your body was found.
He became so melancholy, morose, and irritable, that people were afraid
lest he would destroy himself. He never went home to your mother but
there was a scene of reproaches on his part, and defence on hers, that
was a scandal to the barracks. All her power over him ceased from that
time, and has ceased for ever since, and perhaps you know that he has
retired."

"How should I know, Auguste?"

"Yes; he could not bear to look the other officers in the face; he told
me that he considered himself, from his weakness and folly, to have been
the murderer of his child, that he felt himself despicable, and could
not longer remain with the regiment. As soon as the regiment arrived at
Lyons, he sent in his retirement, and has ever since been living at Pau,
in the south of France, upon his half-pay and the other property which
he possesses."

"My poor father!" exclaimed I, bursting into tears.

"As for me, you know that I obtained leave to quit the regiment, and
have ever since been in the 51st of the line. I have obtained my grade
of lieutenant. I have