spect me I cannot tell; but it is hard to
keep anything from his knowledge; and this morning, as we came from
mass, he took my hand in his, forced it open, and read my little billet,
walking by my side all the while. When he had finished, he gave it back
to me with great politeness. It contained another request to have the
door left open; and this has been the ruin of us all. My uncle kept me
strictly in my room until evening, and then ordered me to dress myself
as you see me--a hard mockery for a young girl, do you not think so? I
suppose, when he could not prevail with me to tell him the young
captain's name, he must have laid a trap for him: into which, alas! you
have fallen in the anger of God. I looked for much confusion; for how
could I tell whether he was willing to take me for his wife on these
sharp terms? He might have been trifling with me from the first; or I
might have made myself too cheap in his eyes. But truly I had not looked
for such a shameful punishment as this! I could not think that God would
let a girl be so disgraced before a young man. And now I have told you
all; and I can scarcely hope that you will not despise me."

Denis made her a respectful inclination.

"Madam," he said, "you have honoured me by your confidence. It remains
for me to prove that I am not unworthy of the honour. Is Messire de
Maletroit at hand?"

"I believe he is writing in the salle without," she answered.

"May I lead you thither, madam?" asked Denis, offering his hand with his
most courtly bearing.

She accepted it; and the pair passed out of the chapel, Blanche in a
very drooping and shamefaced condition, but Denis strutting and ruffling
in the consciousness of a mission, and a boyish certainty of
accomplishing it with honour.

The Sire de Maletroit rose to meet them with an ironical obeisance.

"Sir," said Denis, with the grandest possible air, "I believe I am to
have some say in the matter of this marriage; and let me tell you at
once, I will be no party to forcing the inclination of this young lady.
Had it been freely offered to me, I should have been proud to accept her
hand, for I perceive she is as good as she is beautiful; but as things
are, I have now the honour, messire, of refusing."

Blanche looked at him with gratitude in her eyes; but the old gentleman
only smiled and smiled, until his smile grew positively sickening to
Denis.

"I am afraid," he said, "Monsieur de Beaulieu, that you do not perfectl