andour to be those of the Duchess
de Champdoce!"

"Have I made any opposition to your orders?"

"Then, too, our mourning prevents us going out into the world for five
months longer at least."

"Have I asked to go out?"

"All the more reason that I should endeavor to make your home less dull
for you. I should like you to have with you some person in whose society
you could find pleasure and distraction. Not one of those foolish girls
who have no thought save for balls and dress, but a sensible woman of
the world, and, above all, one of your own age and rank,--a woman, in
short, of whom you could make a friend. But where can such a one be
found? It is a perilous quest to venture on, and upon such a friend
often depends the happiness and misery of a home.

"But," continued he, after a brief pause, "I think that I have
discovered the very one that will suit you. I met her at the house of
Madame d'Ailange, who spoke eloquently of her charms of mind and body,
and I hope to have the pleasure of presenting her to you to-day."

"Here, at our house?"

"Certainly; there is nothing odd in this. Besides, the lady is no
stranger to us; she comes from our own part of the country, and you know
her."

A flush came over his face, and he busied himself with the fire to
conceal it as he added,--

"You recollect Mademoiselle de Laurebourg?"

"Do you mean Diana de Laurebourg?"

"Exactly so."

"I saw very little of her, for my father and hers did not get on
very well together. The Marquis de Laurebourg looked on us as too
insignificant to--"

"Ah, well," interrupted he, "I trust that the daughter will make up for
the father's shortcomings. She married just after our wedding had been
celebrated, and her husband is the Count de Mussidan. She will call on
you to-day, and I have told your servants to say that you are at home."

The silence that followed this speech lasted for nearly a couple of
minutes, and became exceedingly embarrassing, when suddenly the sound
of wheels was heard on the gravel of the courtyard, and in a moment
afterwards a servant came and announced that the Countess de Mussidan
was in the drawing-room. Norbert rose, and, taking his wife's arm, led
her away.

"Come, Marie, come," said he; "she has arrived."

Diana had reflected deeply before she had taken this extraordinarily
bold step. In paying a visit so contrary to all the usual rules of
etiquette, she exposed herself to the chance of receiving a seve