ong tree-shaded
avenues grateful in their coolness.

Hard as the leathern seats were and however wearisome the ride, the
girls forgot discomfort in Henriette's description of the sights and
scenes and Louise's just as eager listening. Then at the stops the
young women would get out and stretch their weary limbs whereof they
suddenly became aware as the motion ceased. They were the only
passengers, with unlimited time for the naive confidences which
girlhood loves.

"Are you sure that Cousin Martin will really meet us at the Paris
coach house?" asked the blind sister anxiously.

"I wrote him that we were coming," replied Henriette simply. "Of
course he will be there and awaiting our arrival."

"But if he should not--"

"Then, we have his address and will go to his house. Never fear,
little sister, it will be all right...."

The lumbering coach-and-six did its hundred miles a day, bad roads or
good roads. But within a few miles of Paris a whiffletree broke, the
ungainly vehicle stopped, and the men jumped off to hold the horses
and repair the damage. Henriette and Louise soon left the hard seats
for a few minutes too.

Down the other side of the narrow turn of the road where the accident
had occurred, thundered the beautiful carved and gilded chaise of a
famous nobleman, Marquis de Praille, accompanied by gallant outriders
and backed by liveried footmen on the high rear seats. Inside the
equipage were the Marquis and his commissionaire La Fleur.

The black and dusty old stage coach blocked the way.

As the aristocrat's journey rudely stopped, with the chaise horses
thrown back on their haunches, a bewigged and powdered head was thrust
out of the window, roaring:

"What is the meaning of this?"

Descending presently with his follower to survey the scene, the noble
Marquis enraged at the blocking of his day's pleasuring belabored the
chief ostler with his cane. Smartly the blows rained down on the
cowering sufferer, alternate right and left in rhythmic strokes that
touched each and several part of the canaille anatomy.

This gentle exercise finished, the Marquis espied around the corner of
the coach the two young passengers. Another side of the Grand
Seigneur's nature disclosed itself.

Mon Dieu, what a vision! Blue eyes, yellow ringlets framing most
kissable features, dainty form, twinkling feet, flower-like
elegance--a rustic Psyche far more to be desired than the ladies of
the Court! The Marquis hardly