peared from the
innermost apartment to receive the Seigneur de Salency. The next minute
he had entered the cottage, and advancing towards her, addressed her as
the Rosiere, and claimed his right of leading her to the church.

Lisette bowed as she listened to his compliments, then, ere she gave him
her hand, she approached her parents, and on her knee asked their
blessing, bending down her head to receive it.

"And now I claim the honour of leading off the fairest of Rosieres!"
exclaimed the Seigneur, raising her from her kneeling attitude, and
leading her by the hand to the cottage door.

Margoton shed tears of joy at the honour done her child, for the Seigneur
seldom claimed his right of leading the Rosiere to church; indeed he
spent most of his time in the capital, and seldom was present at the fete
of the Rose. The neighbours crowded round to compliment the parents; and
none thought of Caliste but Victorine and Dorsain.

As Lisette and the Seigneur reached the cottage door they paused for the
maidens and youths, whose business it was to attend the Rosiere; and
then, as Caliste rose from her seat to accompany her sister, her head
became so confused, that had not Victorine been near at hand, she would
have certainly fallen to the ground. Victorine would have pleaded her
cause to their mother, but Margoton was too much occupied with their
friends, and Caliste also, feeling that it was but a momentary affection,
declared she would proceed.

"Lean upon me, dear niece," said the kind hearted Dorsain, "my arm will
support you if you must make one in this procession."

This unexpected tenderness roused all that was amiable in the mind of
Caliste, and with the impetuosity of her nature which made her too often
show her contempt of her neighbours and acquaintances, she seized her
uncle's hand and pressed it to her lips. "Our Lady bless you!" she
murmured; "our Lady bless you for your kindness to me, but yet I must not
accept of it, for you must not mingle among the Rosiere's attendants."

Victorine, in alarm for her sister, and yet very unwilling to appear at
mass, applied to one of the young girls, imploring her whisperingly to
watch over Caliste, who she feared was seriously ill. Scarce had she
time for this before the procession commenced, the band and banners
preceding the Rosiere, who leant on the arm of the Seigneur de Salency,
then came the young girls dressed in white, with the blue scarfs tied
under their