. Mademoiselle Melanie positively _created_ her, and
she never wears anything made by any one else. It is all owing to
Mademoiselle Melanie that the men surround her as they do, and try to
persuade themselves that she is pretty. Pretty! with her turn-up nose,
and colorless hair and eyes. Her husband is immensely rich; and, as
wealth rules the day in this country, she takes good care that the depth
of his purse shall be known; for that purpose she loads herself with
diamonds,--always diamonds. She has not the least idea of varying her
jewels; even Mademoiselle Melanie could not make her comprehend that
art. I wonder she does not have a dress contrived of bank-notes! _That_
would be novel, and it would also prove a capital way of announcing her
opulence!"

"A rather dangerous costume!" returned Maurice, laughing.

"At all events it would be original; and, as originality is sure to
produce an effect, the saucy little _parvenue_ might afford to follow my
advice, even though it came from an enemy."

Maurice could not help exclaiming with a comical intonation,--for there
was something irresistibly ludicrous in the puny fierceness of the
dressed doll,--"An enemy!"

"Oh, there is no concealment about it!" exclaimed Madame de Fleury with
the air of a Liliputian belligerent. "It is open warfare; we are at
swords' points, and all the world knows our animosity. And Mrs. Gilmer
has the impertinence to pretend that our _styles_ are quite similar, and
that the same modes become us. She even declares that such has been
Mademoiselle Melanie's verdict, and from the judgment of Mademoiselle
Melanie nobody dares to appeal."

"This Mademoiselle Melanie is a Parisian, I presume?" asked Maurice,
more because it seemed polite to say something, than from any interest
in the answer to his question.

"Could she be anything else?" replied Madame de Fleury, with enthusiasm.
"Could a being gifted with such wondrous taste have been born out of
Paris? She is a _protegee_ of Vignon's; and, when I was exiled,
Mademoiselle Melanie came to America with me. She instantly became
known. There is a Mr. Hilson here, to whom she probably brought letters,
for he has taken the deepest interest in trumpeting her fame. She has
created a perfect furor."

"Hilson?" repeated Maurice, musingly. "A gentleman of that name visited
Brittany before I left. I wonder if it can be the same person."

"Very likely, for he has been abroad. I have heard him mention Britta