sure they
had gained the love of this fair, capricious girl.

CHAPTER IV. CONFIDENCES.

Angelique took the arm of Amelie in her old, familiar schoolgirl way,
and led her to the sunny corner of a bastion where lay a dismounted
cannon.

The girls sat down upon the old gun. Angelique held Amelie by both
hands, as if hesitating how to express something she wished to say.
Still, when Angelique did speak, it was plain to Amelie that she had
other things on her mind than what her tongue gave loose to.

"Now we are quite alone, Amelie," said she, "we can talk as we used to
do in our school-days. You have not been in the city during the whole
summer, and have missed all its gaieties?"

"I was well content. How beautiful the country looks from here!" replied
Amelie. "How much pleasanter to be in it, revelling among the flowers
and under the trees! I like to touch the country as well as to look at
it from a distance, as you do in Quebec."

"Well, I never care for the country if I can only get enough of the
city. Quebec was never so gay as it has been this year. The Royal
Roussillon, and the freshly arrived regiments of Bearn and Ponthieu,
have turned the heads of all Quebec,--of the girls, that is. Gallants
have been plenty as bilberries in August. And you may be sure I got my
share, Amelie." Angelique laughed aloud at some secret reminiscences of
her summer campaign.

"It is well that I did not come to the city, Angelique, to get my
head turned like the rest; but now that I am here, suppose I should
mercifully try to heal some of the hearts you have broken!"

"I hope you won't try. Those bright eyes of yours would heal too
effectually the wounds made by mine, and that is not what I desire,"
replied Angelique, laughing.

"No! then your heart is more cruel than your eyes. But, tell me, who
have been your victims this year, Angelique?"

"Well, to be frank, Amelie, I have tried my fascinations upon the King's
officers very impartially, and with fair success. There have been
three duels, two deaths, and one captain of the Royal Roussillon turned
cordelier for my sake. Is that not a fair return for my labor?"

"You are shocking as ever, Angelique! I do not believe you feel proud of
such triumphs," exclaimed Amelie.

"Proud, no! I am not proud of conquering men. That is easy! My triumphs
are over the women! And the way to triumph over them is to subdue
the men. You know my old rival at school, the haughty Francoise