y master, but I have not failed to observe that the
Chevalier Bigot is caught man-fashion, if not husband-fashion, in the
snares of the artful Angelique. But may I speak my real opinion to you,
my Lady?"

Caroline was eagerly watching the lips of the garrulous dame. She
started, brushed back with a stroke of her hand the thick hair that had
fallen over her ear,--"Oh, speak all your thoughts, good dame! If your
next words were to kill me, speak them!"

"My next words will not harm you, my Lady," said she, with a meaning
smile, "if you will accept the opinion of an old woman, who learned the
ways of men when she was the Charming Josephine! You must not conclude
that because the Chevalier Intendant admires, or even loves Angelique
des Meloises, he is going to marry her. That is not the fashion of
these times. Men love beauty, and marry money; love is more plenty than
matrimony, both at Paris and at Quebec, at Versailles as well as at
Beaumanoir or even at Lake Beauport, as I learned to my cost when I was
the Charming Josephine!"

Caroline blushed crimson at the remark of Dame Tremblay. Her voice
quivered with emotion. "It is sin to cheapen love like that, dame! And
yet I know we have sometimes to bury our love in our heart, with no hope
of resurrection."

"Sometimes? Almost always, my Lady! When I was the Charming
Josephine--nay, listen, Lady: my story is instructive." Caroline
composed herself to hear the dame's recital. "When I was the Charming
Josephine of Lake Beauport I began by believing that men were angels
sent for the salvation of us women. I thought that love was a better
passport than money to lead to matrimony; but I was a fool for my fancy!
I had a good score of lovers any day. The gallants praised my beauty,
and it was the envy of the city; they flattered me for my wit,--nay,
even fought duels for my favor, and called me the Charming Josephine,
but not one offered to marry me! At twenty I ran away for love, and
was forsaken. At thirty I married for money, and was rid of all my
illusions. At forty I came as housekeeper to Beaumanoir, and have
lived here comfortably ever since I know what royal intendants are! Old
Hocquart wore night-caps in the daytime, took snuff every minute, and
jilted a lady in France because she had not the dower of a duchess to
match his hoards of wealth! The Chevalier Bigot's black eye and jolly
laugh draw after him all the girls of the city, but not one will catch
him! Angelique d