railway station. Rain was still falling as the train made its way
along the beautiful valley of the Yeres, and it had not ceased when
they had reached Melun. After that Dame Nature changed her mind, and,
before they reached their destination, the clouds were drawing off, and
long streaks of blue sky were to be plainly observed all round the
horizon. They left the station in a flood of sunshine; and by the time
they had crossed the gravelled courtyard and approached the main
entrance to the palace, the sun was as warm and pleasant as on a spring
day.

It would be difficult to over-estimate the pleasure Browne derived from
that simple excursion. He had visited Fontainebleau many times before,
but never had he thought it so beautiful or half so interesting as he
did on the present occasion. When she had overcome the first novelty
of her position, Katherine adapted herself to it with marvellous
celerity. Side by side they wandered through those rooms of many
memories, in the wake of the custodian, whom they could not persuade to
allow them to pass through alone, even under the stimulus of a large
gratuity. Passing through the apartments of Napoleon, of Marie
Antoinette, of Francis the First, they speculated and mused over the
cradle of the infant king of Rome, and the equally historic table upon
which Napoleon signed his abdication.

The wonders of the palace exhausted, they proceeded into the gardens,
visited and fed the famous carp, tested the merits of the labyrinth,
and marvelled at the vineries. Finally they returned to the village in
search of luncheon. The afternoon was devoted to exploring the forest,
and when dusk had descended they dined at the Hotel de France et
d'Angleterre, and afterwards returned to Paris. It was during the
homeward journey, that Browne found occasion to carry out a little
scheme, of which he had been thinking all day. Taking from his pocket
the ring he had purchased on the previous evening, he secured
Katherine's hand and slipped it on her slender finger.

"The symbol of my love, darling," he said softly. "As this little
circlet of gold surrounds your finger, so my love will encompass you on
every side throughout your life. Wear it in remembrance of my words."

Her heart being too full to answer him, she could only press his hand,
and leave it to him to understand.

Faithful to his promise, he delivered Katherine into the keeping of her
guardian before nine o'clock. Both d