nner, so different from her usual
frank, lively bearing, made it still more difficult for him to know how
to accost her.

At last, without raising her eyes, she said, "You and Lord Linden were
having a very animated discussion. At one time I began to be afraid that
you were quarrelling."

"We certainly never differed more. I doubt if we shall ever be friends
again."

This assertion was uttered so earnestly that Bertha involuntarily looked
up into Gaston's face. It was flushed by his recent anger, and the
expression of his countenance betokened perplexity mingled with
vexation.

What woman ever saw the man she loved out of temper without seeking to
pour oil upon the troubled waters, even at the risk of being charged
with her sex's constitutional curiosity? for an attempt to soothe
includes a desire to fathom the secret cause of annoyance. If there be
women who are not stirred by impulses of this kind they are cast in
moulds the very opposite to that of Bertha.

She said, in a soft and winning tone, "Has he done you wrong?"

"He has grossly wronged one whom I esteem more highly, perhaps, than any
woman,--any being living," answered Gaston, firing up at the
recollection of Lord Linden's insinuations; then he corrected himself.
"I should have said any--any oth--oth--other--but"--

"It was a woman--a lady, then, whom he wronged?" inquired Bertha,
betraying redoubled interest at this inadvertent admission.

Gaston perceived that he had said too much; but, in adding nothing more,
he did not extricate himself from the difficulty. His silence could only
be interpreted into an affirmative.

"And one whom you esteem more highly than all others?" persisted Bertha.
"Whom do you esteem so highly as Madeleine? Surely it could not have
been Madeleine? Lord Linden did not speak disrespectfully of Madeleine?"

Gaston had gone too far for concealment. "He spoke of Mademoiselle
Melanie, the mantua-maker; but I warrant I have silenced him!"

"Madeleine is very happy in the possession of such a true friend as you
are! one upon whom she can always lean,--always depend,--one who can
never fail her! Yes, she is very, very happy! When I heard you defending
her before my aunt, I said to myself, 'Oh that I had such a friend!'"

Would not Gaston de Bois have been the dullest of mortals if those words
had failed to infuse a sudden courage into his heart?

He replied with impetuous ardor, "Would--would that you could be induced
to acc