lling "her dear mother." The countenance of Germain
expressed a more calm and settled delight. With his sincere affection
for the merry-hearted being to whom he was united was mingled a deep and
grateful sense of the kind and disinterested conduct of Rigolette
towards him when in prison, although the charming girl herself seemed to
have completely forgotten all about it, and even when Germain spoke of
those days she would entreat him to change the subject, upon the plea of
finding all such recollections so very dull and dispiriting. Neither
would the pretty grisette substitute a bonnet for the smart little cap
worn before her marriage, and certainly never was humility and avoidance
of pretension better rewarded; for nothing could have been invented more
becoming to the piquant style of Rigolette's beauty than the simple cap
_a la paysanne_, trimmed with a large orange-coloured rosette at each
side, contrasting so tastefully with the long tresses of her rich dark
hair, now worn in long hanging curls; for, as she said, "she could now
allow herself to take a little pains with her appearance."

The fair bride wore a handsome worked muslin collar, while a scarf, of
similar colour to the trimmings of her cap, half concealed her graceful,
pliant figure, which, notwithstanding her having leisure to adorn
herself, was still unfettered by the artificial restraints of stays;
although the tight gray silk dress she wore fitted without a fold or a
crease over her lightly rounded bosom, resembling the beautiful statue
of Galatea in marble. Madame Georges beheld the happiness of the newly
married pair with a delight almost equal to their own.

As for Louise Morel, she had been set at liberty after undergoing a most
searching investigation, and when a post-mortem examination of her
infant had proved that it had come to its death by natural means; but
the countenance of the poor victim of another's villainy had lost all
the freshness of youth, and bore the impress of deep sorrow, now
softened and subdued by gentleness and resignation. Thanks to Rodolph,
and the excellent care that had been taken of her through his means, the
mother of Louise, who accompanied her, had entirely recovered her
health.

Madame Georges having informed the porter at the lodge that she had
called by the desire of one of the medical officers of the
establishment, who had appointed to meet herself and the friends by whom
she was accompanied at half past eleven o