pon his vote."

"I am more deeply grateful to you than you can imagine! I thank you
heartily!" exclaimed Madeleine, extending her hand with impulsive
frankness, but the action was checked almost as quickly as made. For a
moment she had forgotten the difference of station which she wished him
to believe existed between them.

"Do not withdraw your hand," he pleaded, making an attempt to imprison
that hand in his own. But he had the good taste instantly to abandon his
intention when he saw Madeleine's reluctance. "As you will; I am more
than satisfied by the assurance that I have a claim upon your
gratitude."

"You have, indeed, my lord; I am truly grateful."

"I will only ask in return," commenced his lordship, "that you will
listen to me for a few moments; that you will allow me to tell you what
is in my mind,--my heart."

Madeleine saw that the evil hour could not be escaped, or postponed, and
she answered with calm dignity which would have awed a man less under
the dominion of passion, "You are at liberty to speak, my lord; yet what
is there of _importance_ which your lordship can have to say to the
_mantua-maker_?"

Lord Linden, at first, found it difficult to avail himself of the
privilege so frigidly given; but he soon collected himself.

"The mantua-maker? How little that title seems to belong to you! The
proudest, the noblest lady could not have inspired me with the respect,
the veneration I feel for you."

"_Respect_ is peculiarly grateful to one in my position;" answered
Madeleine pointedly.

This answer seemed to suggest that he might be forgetful of the respect
due to her, and confused him for a moment; but such an opportunity as
the present was not to be lost. He went on with renewed animation.

"From the first moment that I met you,--from the moment when, during
that memorable journey, you shone forth as the guardian angel of all the
suffering--and especially mine"--

Madeleine tried to restrain him again, by saying, with a forced smile,--

"_An angelic mantua-maker!_ You have a great faculty of _idealizing_, my
lord. I believe the extent of my services to you consisted in the
sacrifice of an old pocket-handkerchief, torn into strips for a bandage,
and the use of my own especial implement, a needle, with which the
bandages were sewed."

"I have those strips yet," replied the nobleman with ardor. "I shall
never part with them,--they are invaluable to me; for, from the moment
we met, I loved