added, in her proudest tone,--

"And now, sir, since _I_ have deigned to stand here like a criminal, do
you sit in judgment on me. Question me, and I will answer. What else are
you going to charge me with?"

A judge, however, ought to be calm; and Daniel was but too conscious of
his deep excitement; he knew he could not even prevent his features from
expressing his utter bewilderment. He gave up all discussion therefore,
and simply said,--

"I believe you, Miss Brandon, I believe you."

Miss Brandon's beautiful eyes lighted up for a moment with joy; and in a
tone of voice which sounded like the echo of her heart, she said,--

"Oh, thank you, sir! now I am sure you will grant me Miss Henrietta's
friendship."

Why did she mention that name? It broke the charm which had overcome
Daniel. He saw how weak he had been, and was ashamed of himself.

He said sternly, thus proving his anger at himself, and the failure of
his judgment,--

"Permit me not to reply to that to-night. I should like to consider."

She looked at him half stupefied.

"What do you mean?" she said. "Have I, or have I not, removed your
doubts, your insulting suspicions? Perhaps you wish to consult one of my
enemies?"

She spoke in a tone of such profound disdain, that Daniel, stung to
the quick, forgot the discretion which he had intended to observe, and
said,--

"Since you insist upon it, Miss Brandon, I must confess that there is
one doubt which you have not removed."

"Which?"

Daniel hesitated, regretting the words he had allowed to escape him. But
he had gone too far now to retract. He replied,--

"I do not understand, Miss Brandon, how you can marry Count Ville-
Handry."

"Why not?"

"You are young. You are immensely rich, you say. The count is sixty-six
years old."

She, who had been so daring that nothing seemed to be able to disconcert
her, now lowered her head like a timid boarding-school girl who has been
caught acting contrary to rules; and a flood of crimson spread over her
face, and every part of her figure which was not concealed by her dress.

"You are cruel, sir!" she stammered; "the secret into which you pry is
one of those which a girl hardly dares to confide to her mother."

He was triumphant, thinking he had caught her at last.

"Ah, indeed!" he said ironically.

But the proud young lady did not waver, and replied with bitter
sadness,--

"You will have it so; be it so. For your sake, I will lay aside that
v