amily,--when I am literally _shedding my blood_ in their behalf!" she
added playfully, holding towards him the white dress upon which a slight
red stain was visible; for the needle grasped by her trembling hands had
pricked her.

"Good heavens, Madeleine! when will you lay aside those intolerable airs
and graces which you invariably assume, and which would be very charming
in a young girl of sixteen,--a girl like Bertha; but, in a woman who has
arrived at your years,--a woman of twenty-one,--become ridiculous
affectation?"

M. de Bois, enraged at the injustice of this rebuke, could control
himself no longer, and came forward with a lowering visage. The count
turned towards him in surprise.

"Ah, M. de Bois, I was not aware of your presence. I must have
interrupted a _tete-a-tete_. You perceive, I am, now and then, obliged
to chide."

Gaston answered only by a bow, though his features wore an expression
which the count would not have been well pleased to see if he had
interpreted aright.

"But," continued the latter, "we are most apt to chide those whom we
love best, as you are aware."

"I am a--a--ware," began M. de Bois, trying to calm his indignation, yet
experiencing a strong desire to adopt his new method of speaking
fluently by using strong interjections.

The count changed the subject by asking, "Did you deliver the letters,
of which you had the goodness to take charge, to the Count Damoreau,
Madame de Nervac, and Monsieur de Bonneville?"

"Our relatives!" exclaimed Madeleine, unreflectingly. "Have you
forgotten that you will see them to-night at the ball? But I beg pardon;
perhaps you had something very important to write about."

"It _was_ very important," answered the count, dryly.

"I im--im--imagined so," remarked M. de Bois, "by the sensation the
letters created. Madame de Nervac turned pale, and the Count Damoreau
turned red, and M. de Bonneville gnawed his nails as he was reading."

"Had they the kindness to send answers by you, as I requested?"

"Yes, the object of my early vi--vi--visit was to deliver them. I heard
Mademoiselle Madeleine singing as I passed the _chalet_, and paused to
pay my respects."

He drew forth three letters, and placed them in the count's hand.

The latter seized them eagerly, and seemed inclined to break the seals
at once, but changed his mind, and putting them in his pocket, said,
"Shall I have the pleasure of your company to the chateau?"

M. de Bois could no