hout their ladies,
together with the unmarried officers of both services. As the
gentlemen far outnumbered the ladies, the latter were always in great
demand; so that the ladies of the civilians, though of a decidedly
inferior grade, were objects of attention and of homage. This being
the case, it will readily be perceived what an effect was produced
upon the _beau monde_ at Louisbourg by the advent of such a bright,
particular star as Mimi. Young, beautiful, accomplished, she also
added the charms of rank, and title, and supposed wealth. The Count
de Laborde had been prominent at court, and his name was well known.
His daughter was therefore looked upon as one of the greatest
heiresses of France, and there was not a young officer at Louisbourg
who did not inwardly vow to strive to win so dazzling a prize.

She would at once have been compelled to undergo a round of the most
exhaustive festivities, had it not been for one thing--she was in
mourning. Her bereavement had been severe, and was so recent that all
thoughts of gayety were out of the question. This fact lessened the
chances which the gallant French cavaliers might otherwise have had,
but in no respect lessened their devotion. Beauty in distress is
always a touching and a resistless object to every chivalrous heart;
and here the beauty was exquisite, and the distress was undeniably
great.

The commandant and his lady had appropriated Mimi from the first, and
Mimi congratulated herself on having found a home so easily. It was
pleasant to her, after her recent imprisonment, to be among people
who looked up to her with respectful and affectionate esteem.
Monsieur de Florian may not have been one of the best of men; indeed,
it was said that he had been diligently feathering his nest at the
expense of the government ever since he had been in Louisbourg; but
in spite of that, he was a kindhearted man, while his wife was a
kind-hearted woman, and one, too, who was full of tact and delicacy.
Mimi's position, therefore, was as pleasant as it could be, under the
circumstances.

After one or two days had passed, Claude began to be aware of the
fact that life in Louisbourg was much less pleasant than life on the
road. There he was all day long close beside Mimi, or at her horse's
bridle, with confidential chat about a thousand things, with eloquent
nothings, and shy glances, and tender little attentions, and delicate
services. Here, however, it was all different. All th