untess had flitted away to Luzon, and the daughter was sent to the
dull old country mansion in charge of her old aunt. It was the old, old
story; two young hearts loving with all the truth and energy of their
natures. They had exchanged a few words on their first meeting, and on
the next Sabine went on to the balcony and watched the rapid play of
Andre's chisel with childish delight. For a long time they conversed,
and Sabine was surprised at the education and refinement of the young
workman. Utterly fresh, and without experience, Sabine could not
understand her new sensations. Andre held, one night, a long converse
with himself, and was at last obliged to confess that he loved her
fondly. He ran the extent of his folly and madness, and recognized the
barrier of birth and wealth that stood between them, and was overwhelmed
with consternation.

The Chateau of Mussidan stands in a very lonely spot, and one of the
roads leading to it passes through a dense forest, and therefore it had
been arranged that Andre was to take his meals in the house. After
a time Sabine began to feel that this isolation was a needless
humiliation.

"Why can't M. Andre take his meals with us?" asked she of her aunt. "He
is certainly more gentlemanlike than many of those who visit us, and I
think that his conversation would entertain you."

The old lady was easily persuaded to adopt this suggestion, though at
first it seemed an odd kind of thing to admit a mere working man to her
table; but she was so bored with the loneliness of the place that she
hailed with delight anything that would break its monotony. Andre at
once accepted the proposal, and the old lady would hardly believe her
eyes when her guest entered the room with the dress and manners of a
highbred gentleman. "It is hardly to be believed," said she, as she was
preparing to go to bed, "that a mere carver of stone should be so like
a gentleman. It seems to me that all distinctions of social rank have
vanished. It is time for me to die, or we are rapidly approaching a
state of anarchy."

In spite of her prejudices, however, Andre contrived to win the old
lady's heart, and won a complete victory by painting her portrait in
full gala costume. From that moment he was treated as one of the family,
and, having no fear of a rebuff, was witty and sprightly in his manner.
Once he told the old lady the true story of his life. Sabine was deeply
interested, and marvelled at his energy and endur