ay have to wait a long time for a bride."

"I? Why, I am not Mademoiselle Madeleine's lover!"

"No, but you are very dependent upon him. You cannot encircle your
bride's finger with a wedding-ring until he passes one on the taper
finger of his."

"Bertha, that is unreasonable!" remonstrated Gaston.

"All the more womanly! Of course it is unreasonable; I never laid claim
to being _reasonable_; but, on the other hand, I am obstinate. When
Madeleine names the day for her marriage she names the day for mine."

"But if she should never marry, and that is possible."

"Then _I never shall!_" said Bertha, with a petulant little air of
determination which looked only too real.

M. de Bois had no opportunity at that moment to test the effect of his
newly-acquired eloquence, for Maurice entered.

"Bertha, will you believe that I have escorted my grandmother home and
actually forgotten you? The carriage waits, and I am deputed to see you
safely to the hotel."

"Do you suppose I shall accept as an escort one who thought me of too
little importance to bear me in mind?" asked Bertha, who was not wanting
in feminine tact, that sixth sense of womanhood, which becomes
wonderfully quickened when love sharpens the faculties.

Gaston joined in; "My dear fellow, you could scarcely hope to be treated
civilly after such a confession. But I will do my utmost to relieve you
in this unpleasant predicament. Mademoiselle Bertha refuses you as an
escort--but, as she cannot return alone, I will take your place."

"And you may dismiss your carriage," returned Bertha. "I prefer to
walk."

"And you really will not let me accompany you?" asked Maurice. "What
will my grandmother say?"

"No doubt we shall hear _that_ when we reach the hotel," was the young
lady's saucy reply.

But they did _not_ hear; for the countess had closed her door, and did
not open it again until she summoned Adolphine to undress her.

The watchers beside Count Tristan that night were Madeleine and Maurice.
The count was somewhat restless and often muttered unintelligible words;
but he continued to recognize Madeleine and seemed pleased to have her
near him. Maurice did not fall asleep again; he and Madeleine talked, in
whispers, the whole night through, with the exception of those brief
intervals when the count was awake. The themes of conversation were so
abundant, so self-increasing, there was always so much which remained
untold, that the topics of interest app