re_ at Madame de Fleury's, she
would have answered, "Bertha,"--Bertha, whose devotion had been so
unflagging, so open, so daring. But on the day which succeeded that
stormy interview, Count Tristan and Maurice had visited Madeleine, yet
Bertha remained absent; another day passed, and still she came not.

The Countess de Gramont had resolved, at least, to postpone a meeting
she might not be able wholly to prevent. She formed her plans so
dexterously that Bertha was chained to her side, fretting through the
tedious hours, yet powerless to secure a moment's freedom.

Exasperation caused Bertha sleepless nights; and on the third morning
she rose with the sun, summoned her maid, sent for a carriage, and was
on her way to Madeleine's residence some three hours before it was
likely that the slumbers of the countess would be broken.

Madeleine was preparing for her matinal walk, when her cousin was
announced.

After the first joyous greetings were over, Bertha said, with tender
delight,--

"And now that I have found you, my own Madeleine, I mean to come to see
you every day."

Madeleine shook her head sadly. "Madame de Gramont will never permit
that."

"How can she help it if I choose to order all my dresses made here? The
choice and discussion of becoming attire shall occupy as much of my time
as it does of Madame de Fleury's. I mean to become her rival and almost
ruin myself in splendid toilets,--that is, unless you accept my
proposition."

"What proposition, Bertha?"

"To give up your--your--your--What shall I call it? Your
_occupation_,--your _vocation_,--I have a great mind to say your
'_trade_,' that the word may shock you. Live with me; travel with me; go
where I go. Will you not consent?"

"No," answered Madeleine, gently, but resolutely.

"Do not decide hastily. You cannot know how much I need you, Madeleine.
Your counsels were indispensable to me even in days when I had no secret
to confide: now--now"--

"Now you _have_ a secret? Is it indeed so?"

Bertha nodded, paused awhile, then went on abruptly,--

"I have been pestered to death by men who aspired to my hand, and my
uncle declares there is no possibility of my finding peace until I make
some choice."

"And you intend to secure peace upon his terms? Possibly among those who
aspired to your hand there is one who has discovered the entrance to
your heart."

"Among those who have aspired,--ah, there is the difficulty! Among those
there is none.