POLICY.

When Count Tristan was ushered into Madeleine's presence, he was
received, not perhaps with warmth, but with marked courtesy. Nothing in
her greeting betrayed that his past conduct was remembered, and yet
nothing in her manner indicated that their relationship was unforgotten.
Her demeanor was simply that which would have been natural and
appropriate in receiving, beneath her own roof, one who was almost a
stranger.

The count had been completely disconcerted by the unexpected meeting
with his son; his wily smoothness was too much ruffled for him to couch
his first words in polite language; he could not forbear saying,--

"I entertained the hope that my visit would be private; it is very
unfortunate that I encountered Maurice; it will give him cause to think
that I am opposed to his grandmother's course." He smoothed over this
slip of the tongue by adding, "And, certainly, so I am! I disapprove of
her excessive rigor; her conduct toward you does not meet with my full
sanction."

It was the unintentional expression of Madeleine's countenance, perhaps,
which made Count Tristan remember that his own conduct had strongly
resembled that of his mother. But his auditor spoke no word; she was too
kind to utter her thoughts, and too frank to say what she did not think.

The count went on,--

"I could not yield to my strong impulse yesterday, and defend you; it
would not have done; my mother would only have been exasperated. I was
forced apparently to agree with her. The sacred title of 'mother,'
which is never to be forgotten, compelled me to yield her this
respect,--a respect due alike to her years and to her position. But, now
that we are alone, I may tell you how pained, how grieved I was at the
occurrences of yesterday."

"I no longer think of them," replied Madeleine.

"As I said," continued the count, "when you left us so mysteriously in
Brittany, however troubled we might have been at your sudden step,
however anxious about your welfare, it was useless to be indignant,
since you thought your course the right one, and you were ever
conscientiousness personified; besides it should always be taken into
consideration that, come what might, you are still our relation; the
ties of blood are indissoluble. I said to my mother, 'It can never be
forgotten that Madeleine is your niece.'"

"I would have had her forget it," replied Madeleine. "I preserved my
incognita, and kept at a distance from you all that yo