ouncement to be startled
by it Mademoiselle Esmeralda, who was weeping bitterly, half sprang to
her feet.

"To-night!" she said. "Oh, father!"

"Yes," he replied; "I've been thinking over it, an' I don't see no other
way, an' it may as well be to-night as any other time."

After leaving us he was absent for about an hour. When he returned,
there were traces in his appearance of the storm through which he had
passed. His hands trembled with agitation; he even looked weakened as he
sank into his chair, We regarded him with commiseration.

"It's over," he half whispered, "an' it was even rougher than I thought
it would be. She was terrible outed, was mother. I reckon I never see
her so outed before. She jest raged and tore. It was most more than
I could stand, Esmeraldy," and he dropped his head upon his hands for
support. "Seemed like it was the Markis as laid heaviest upon her," he
proceeded. "She was terrible sot on the Markis, an' every time she think
of him, she'd just rear--. she'd just rear. I never stood up agen mother
afore, an' I hope I shan't never have it to do again in my time. I'm
kinder wore out."

Little by little we learned much of what had passed, though he evidently
withheld the most for the sake of Mademoiselle, and it was some time
before he broke the news to her that her mother's doors were closed
against her.

"I think you'll find it pleasanter a-stoppin' here," he said, "if Mis'
Dimar'll board ye until--the time fur startin' home. Her sperrit was so
up that she said she didn't aim to see you no more, an' you know how she
is, Esmeraldy, when her sperrit's up."

The girl went and clung around his neck, kneeling at his side, and
shedding tears.

"Oh, father!" she cried, "you've bore a great deal for me; you've bore
more than any one knows, and all for me."

He looked rather grave, as he shook his head at the fire.

"That's so, Esmeraldy," he replied; "but we ailers seemed nigh to each
other, somehow, and when it come to the wust, I was bound to kinder make
a stand fur you, as I couldn't have made fur myself. I couldn't have
done it fur myself. Lord, no!"

So Mademoiselle remained with us, and Clelie assisted her to prepare
her simple outfit, and in the evening the tall young lover came into our
apartment and sat looking on, which aspect of affairs, I will confess,
was entirely new to Clelie, and yet did not displease her.

"Their candor moves me," she said. "He openly regards her with
a