erse with him more freely than she had thought it
possible when she sat down at table.

"It is long since we all sat together, Mademoiselle, at the table of
your noble aunt," remarked Philibert. "It fulfills an often and often
repeated day-dream of mine, that I should one day find you just the
same."

"And do you find me just the same?" answered she, archly. "You take down
the pride of ladyhood immensely, Colonel! I had imagined I was something
quite other than the wild child of Tilly!"

"I hardly like to consider you as in the pride of ladyhood,
Mademoiselle, for fear I should lose the wild child of Tilly, whom I
should be so glad to find again."

"And whom you do find just the same in heart, mind, and regard too!"
thought she to herself, but her words were,--"My school mistresses would
be ashamed of their work, Colonel, if they had not improved on the very
rude material my aunt sent them up from Tilly to manufacture into a fine
lady! I was the crowned queen of the year when I left the Ursulines, so
beware of considering me 'the child of Tilly' any longer."

Her silvery laugh caught his heart, for in that he recognized vividly
the gay young girl whose image he was every instant developing out of
the tall, lovely woman beside him.

La Corne St. Luc and the Lady de Tilly found a thousand delights in
mutual reminiscences of the past. Le Gardeur, somewhat heavy, joined
in conversation with Philibert and his sister. Amelie guessed, and
Philibert knew, the secret of Le Gardeur's dulness; both strove to
enliven and arouse him. His aunt guessed too, that he had passed the
night as the guests of the Intendant always passed it, and knowing
his temper and the regard he had for her good opinion, she brought the
subject of the Intendant into conversation, in order, casually as it
were, to impress Le Gardeur with her opinion of him. "Pierre Philibert
too," thought she, "shall be put upon his guard against the crafty
Bigot."

"Pierre," said she, "you are happy in a father who is a brave, honorable
man, of whom any son in the world might be proud. The country holds by
him immensely, and he deserves their regard. Watch over him now you are
at home, Pierre. He has some relentless and powerful enemies, who would
injure him if they could."

"That has he," remarked La Corne St. Luc; "I have spoken to the Sieur
Philibert and cautioned him, but he is not impressible on the subject of
his own safety. The Intendant spoke savagely of