the age--the latter might be forgotten; the former,
never. As they became the wives and mothers of succeeding times, they
have left upon their descendants an impress of politeness and urbanity
that distinguishes the people of Canada to this day.

Of all the crowd of fair, eager aspirants contending for honors on the
day of examination in the great school, crowns had only been awarded to
Amelie and to Angelique des Meloises--two girls equal in beauty,
grace, and accomplishments, but unlike in character and in destiny.
The currents of their lives ran smoothly together at the beginning. How
widely different was to be the ending of them!

The brother of Amelie, Le Gardeur de Repentigny, was her elder by a
year--an officer in the King's service, handsome, brave, generous,
devoted to his sister and aunt, but not free from some of the vices
of the times prevalent among the young men of rank and fortune in the
colony, who in dress, luxury, and immorality, strove to imitate the
brilliant, dissolute Court of Louis XV.

Amelie passionately loved her brother, and endeavored--not without
success, as is the way with women--to blind herself to his faults. She
saw him seldom, however, and in her solitary musings in the far-off
Manor House of Tilly, she invested him with all the perfections he did
and did not possess; and turned a deaf, almost an angry ear, to tales
whispered in his disparagement.

CHAPTER III. A CHATELAINE OF NEW FRANCE.

The Governor was surprised and delighted to encounter Lady de Tilly and
her fair niece, both of whom were well known to and highly esteemed
by him. He and the gentlemen of his suite saluted them with profound
respect, not unmingled with chivalrous admiration for noble,
high-spirited women.

"My honored Lady de Tilly and Mademoiselle de Repentigny," said the
Governor, hat in hand, "welcome to Quebec. It does not surprise, but
it does delight me beyond measure to meet you here at the head of your
loyal censitaires. But it is not the first time that the ladies of the
House of Tilly have turned out to defend the King's forts against his
enemies."

This he said in allusion to the gallant defence of a fort on the wild
Iroquois frontier by a former lady of her house.

"My Lord Count," replied the lady, with quiet dignity, "'tis no special
merit of the house of Tilly to be true to its ancient fame--it could not
be otherwise. But your thanks are at this time more due to these loyal
habitans, wh