not unworthy; God gave you as my only brother, you will never
be unworthy in my eyes. But it touches me to the quick to suspect others
may think lightly of you, Le Gardeur."

He flinched, for his pride was touched, but he knew Amelie was right.
"It was weakness in me," said he, "I confess it, sister. To pour wine
upon my vexation in hope to cure it, is to feed a fire with oil. To
throw fire into a powder magazine were wisdom compared with my folly,
Amelie: I was angry at the message I got at such a time. Angelique des
Meloises has no mercy upon her lovers!"

"Oh, my prophetic heart! I thought as much! It was Angelique, then, sent
you the letter you read at table?"

"Yes, who else could have moved me so? The time was ill-chosen, but I
suspect, hating the Bourgeois as she does, Angelique intended to call me
from Pierre's fete. I shall obey her now, but tonight she shall obey
me, decide to make or mar me, one way or other! You may read the letter,
Amelie, if you will."

"I care not to read it, brother; I know Angelique too well not to fear
her influence over you. Her craft and boldness were always a terror to
her companions. But you will not leave Pierre's fete tonight?" added
she, half imploringly; for she felt keenly the discourtesy to Pierre
Philibert.

"I must do even that, sister! Were Angelique as faulty as she is fair, I
should only love her the more for her faults, and make them my own. Were
she to come to me like Herodias with the Baptist's head in a charger, I
should outdo Herod in keeping my pledge to her."

Amelie uttered a low, moaning cry. "O my dear infatuated brother, it is
not in nature for a De Repentigny to love irrationally like that! What
maddening philtre have you drank, to intoxicate you with a woman who
uses you so imperiously? But you will not go, Le Gardeur!" added
she, clinging to his arm. "You are safe so long as you are with your
sister,--you will be safe no longer if you go to the Maison des Meloises
tonight!"

"Go I must and shall, Amelie! I have drank the maddening philtre,--I
know that, Amelie, and would not take an antidote if I had one! The
world has no antidote to cure me. I have no wish to be cured of love for
Angelique, and in fine I cannot be, so let me go and receive the rod
for coming to Belmont and the reward for leaving it at her summons!" He
affected a tone of levity, but Amelie's ear easily detected the false
ring of it.

"Dearest brother!" said she, "are you sure Ange