ville took occasion to say in a low voice to his
fortunate rival; "Monsieur, I hope that you will make your wife happy;
if I can be useful to you in any way, command my services; I should be
only too glad to contribute to the happiness of so charming a pair."

This great day, in which such vast interests of heart and fortune were
decided, caused but one anxiety to the Master of the Hunt,--namely,
whether or not the stag would cross the pond and be killed on the
lawn before the house; for huntsmen of his calibre are like great
chess-players who can predict a checkmate under certain circumstances.
The happy old man succeeded to the height of his wishes; the run was
magnificent, and the ladies released him from his attendance upon them
for the hunt of the next day but one,--which, however, turned out to be
rainy.

The Duc de Verneuil's guests stayed five days at Rosembray. On the last
day the Gazette de France announced the appointment of Monsieur le Baron
de Canalis to the rank of commander of the Legion of honor, and to the
post of minister at Carlsruhe.

When, early in the month of December, Madame de La Bastie, operated upon
by Desplein, recovered her sight and saw Ernest de La Briere for the
first time, she pressed Modeste's hand and whispered in her ear, "I
should have chosen him myself."

Toward the last of February all the deeds for the estates in Provence
were signed by Latournelle, and about that time the family of La Bastie
obtained the marked honor of the king's signature to the marriage
contract and to the ordinance transmitting their title and arms to La
Briere, who henceforth took the name of La Briere-La Bastie. The estate
of La Bastie was entailed by letters-patent issued about the end of
April. La Briere's witnesses on the occasion of his marriage were
Canalis and the minister whom he had served for five years as secretary.
Those of the bride were the Duc d'Herouville and Desplein, whom the
Mignons long held in grateful remembrance, after giving him magnificent
and substantial proofs of their regard.

Later, in the course of this long history of our manners and customs, we
may again meet Monsieur and Madame de La Briere-La Bastie; and those
who have the eyes to see, will then behold how sweet, how easy, is the
marriage yoke with an educated and intelligent woman; for Modeste, who
had the wit to avoid the follies of pedantry, is the pride and happiness
of her husband, as she is of her family and of al