LLS; FUNERAL KNELLS.

Three days of hard work had completed all the arrangements necessary
for the marriage of Norbert and Mademoiselle de Puymandour. He had been
presented to the lady, and neither had received a favorable impression
of the other. At the very first glance each one felt that inevitable
repugnance which the lapse of years can never efface. While dreading the
anger of her obdurate father, Marie had at one time thought of confiding
the secret of her attachment to George de Croisenois to Norbert, for she
had the idea that if she told him that her heart was another's, he
might withdraw his pretensions to her hand; but several times, when
the opportunity occurred, fear restrained her tongue, and she let the
propitious moment pass away. Had she done so, Norbert would at once have
eagerly grasped at a pretext for absolving himself from a promise which
he had made mentally of obeying in all things a father who now, alas!
had no means of enforcing his commands.

Each day he paid his visit to Puymandour as an accepted suitor, bearing
a large bouquet with him, which he regularly presented to his betrothed
upon his entrance into the drawing-room, which she accepted with a
painful flush rising to her cheek. The pair conversed upon indifferent
topics, while an aged female connection sat in the room to play
propriety. For many hours they would remain thus, the girl bending over
her fancy work, and he vainly striving to find topics of conversation,
and, consequently, saying hardly anything, in spite of Marie's feeble
efforts to assist in the conversation. It was a slight relief when M.
de Puymandour proposed a walk; but this was a rare occurrence, for that
gentleman usually declared that he never had a moment's leisure. Never
had he seemed so gay and busy since the approaching marriage of
his daughter had been the theme of every tongue. He took all the
preparations for the ceremony into his own hands, for he had determined
that everything should be conducted on a scale of unparalleled
magnificence. The Chateau was refurnished, and all the carriages
repainted and varnished, while the Champdoce and the Puymandour arms
were quartered together on their panels. This coat of arms was to be
seen everywhere--over the doors, on the walls, and engraved on the
silver, and it was believed that M. de Puymandour would have made no
objection to their being branded on his breast.

In the midst of all this turmoil and bustle Norbert an