restored him to her.

Vallombreuse supported her tenderly for a few moments, until he found
she was growing calmer, when he gently disengaged himself from her
clasping arms, and drawing down the hands with which she had covered her
face, to hide its tears and blushes, said, "My sweet sister, do not,
I pray you, hide your lovely face from us; I fear my protege will be
driven to believe that you entertain such an invincible dislike to him
you will not even look at him."

Isabelle raised her drooping head, and turning full upon de Sigognac her
glorious eyes, shining with a celestial joy, in spite of the sparkling
tear-drops that still hung upon their long lashes, held out to him her
beautiful white hand, which he took reverentially in both his own,
and bending down pressed fervently to his lips. The passionate kiss he
imprinted upon it thrilled through Isabelle's whole being, and for a
second she turned faint and giddy; but the delicious ecstasy, which
is almost anguish, of such emotion as hers, is never hurtful, and she
presently looked up and smiled reassuringly upon her anxious lover, as
the colour returned to her lips and cheeks, and the warm light to her
eyes.

"And now tell me, my sweet little sister," began Vallombreuse, with an
air of triumph, and a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, "wasn't I right
when I declared that you would smile upon the husband I had chosen for
you? and would not be discouraged, though you were so obstinate? If I
had not been equally so, this dear de Sigognac would have gone back to
his far-away chateau, without even having seen you; and that would have
been a pity, as you must admit."

"Yes, I do admit it, my dearest brother, and also that you have been
adorably kind and good to me. You were the only one who, under the
circumstances, could bring about this reunion, and we both know how to
appreciate what you have so nobly and generously done for us."

"Yes, indeed," said de Sigognac warmly; "your brother has given us ample
proof of the nobility and generosity of his nature--he magnanimously put
aside the resentment that might seem legitimate, and came to me with his
hand outstretched, and his heart in it. He revenges himself nobly for
the harm I was obliged to do him, by imposing an eternal gratitude upon
me--a light burden, that I shall bear joyfully so long as I live."

"Say nothing more about that, my dear baron!" Vallombreuse exclaimed.
"You would have done as much in my place. Th