ver can tell whom I love best, that is my trouble. You are
all so nice, messieurs, that it is impossible for me to say whom I
love most."

The young men laughed.

"And you, Mademoiselle de Rohan, will you confess?"

"Oh, I am quite different," she said. "I quite know whom I love
best, but just as I am quite sure about it, he does something
disagreeable or stupid--all men are really disagreeable or stupid
when you get to know them--and so then I try another, but it is
always with the same result."

"You are all very cruel," the Duc de Carolan laughed. "And you,
Mademoiselle de Pignerolles? But I know what you will say, you have
never seen anyone worth loving."

Adele did not answer; but her laughing friends insisted that as
they had confessed their inmost thoughts, she ought to do the same.

For a moment she looked serious, then she laughed, and again put on
a demure air.

"Yes," said she, "I have had a grande passion, but it came to
nothing."

A murmur of "Impossible!" ran round the circle.

"It was nearly four years ago," she said.

"Oh, nonsense, Adele, you were a child four years ago," one of her
companions said.

"Of course I was a child," Adele said, "but I suppose children can
love, and I loved an English boy."

"Oh, oh, mademoiselle, an English boy!" and other amused cries ran
round the circle.

"And did he love you, mademoiselle?" the Duc de Carolan asked.

"Oh, dear no," the girl answered. "I don't suppose I should have
loved him if he had. But he was strong, and gentle, and brave, and
he was nearly four years older than I was, and he always treated me
with respect. Oh, yes, I loved him."

"He must have been the most insensible of boys," the Duc de Carolan
said; "but no doubt he was very good and gentle, this youthful
islander; but how do you know that he was brave?"

The sneering tone with which the duke spoke was clearly resented by
Adele, for her cheek flushed, and she spoke with an earnestness
quite different from the half-laughing tone she had hitherto spoken
in.

"I know that he was brave, Monsieur le Duc, because he fought with,
and ran through the body, a man who insulted me."

The girl spoke so earnestly that for a moment a hush fell upon the
little group; and the Duc de Carolan, who clearly resented the warm
tone in which she spoke, said:

"Quite a hero of romance, mademoiselle. This unfortunate who
incurred your Paladin's indignation was clearly more insolent than
skillful