," cried Margaret, disregarding a warning look
from her mother. "I am engaged to be married to Monsieur de
Courval--and--everybody--is pleased. Dear Aunt Gainor, I like it
myself."

"I at least am to be excepted," said the vicomtesse, "as Mademoiselle
knows. I beg at present to be saved further discussion. May I be
excused--"

"It seems, Madame," returned Miss Wynne, smiling, "to have got past the
need for discussion. I congratulate you with all my heart."

"_Mon Dieu!_" exclaimed the vicomtesse, forgetful of her Huguenot
training, and swept by Miss Gainor's most formal courtesy and was gone.

"Dear child," cried Mistress Wynne, as she caught Margaret in her arms,
"I am glad as never before. The vicomte has gone back to the service
and--you are to marry--oh, the man of my choice. The poor vicomtesse,
alas! Where is the vicomte?"

"He is out just now. We did mean to tell thee this evening."

"Ah! I am glad it came earlier, this good news. May I tell them at the
governor's?"

"I may as well say yes," cried Margaret. "Thou wouldst be sure to tell."

"I should," said Gainor.

XXVII

Both mothers had accepted a situation which neither entirely liked; but
the atmosphere was cleared, and the people most concerned were well
satisfied and happy. Miss Gainor joyously distributed the news. Gay
cousins called, and again the late summer afternoons saw in the garden
many friends who had sturdily stood by De Courval in his day of
discredit.

If Randolph was cool to him, others were not, and the office work and
the treaty were interesting, while in France affairs were better, and
the reign of blood had passed and gone.

The warm days of August went by, and De Courval's boat drifted on the
river at evening, where he lay and talked to Margaret, or listened, a
well-contented man. There were parties in the country, dinners with the
Peters at Belmont, or at historic Cliveden. Schmidt, more grave than
usual, avoided these festivities, and gave himself to lonely rides, or
to long evenings on the river when De Courval was absent or otherwise
occupied, as was commonly the case.

When late one afternoon he said to Rene, "I want you to lend me Margaret
for an hour," she cried, laughing, "Indeed, I lend myself; and I make my
lord vicomte obey, as is fitting before marriage. I have not yet
promised to obey after it, and I am at thy service, Friend Schmidt."

Rene laughed and said, "I am not left much choice," whereupon Sch