th of each, or
asking questions about her family,--for she knew the histories of all;
and then learning particulars concerning the work that had been done,
and the work in hand.

The obsequiousness of Mademoiselle Victorine was perfectly overwhelming,
yet she experienced no little disappointment. She had made up her mind
that since Mademoiselle Melanie was known to be Mademoiselle de Gramont,
she would never again be able to appear among her workwomen, even to
superintend their labors, and a large portion of the resigned power must
be delegated to the accomplished forewoman. Ruth Thornton, Madeleine's
favorite, as Victorine considered her, was in the way; but what were a
French woman's wits worth if they could not devise some method of
removing a dangerous rival?

Madeleine lingered long enough to be _au courant_ to the present state
of affairs, and she found that the business of the establishment had so
much increased during her seclusion, that every day, a host of orders
had to be declined. This overwhelming influx of patronage was partially
attributable to the reports circulated concerning Mademoiselle Melanie's
romantic history, and also to the strong desire of the public (a
democratic public) to secure the honor of procuring habiliments from the
establishment of a dress-maker whose father was a duke.

Madeleine had taken a seat near Ruth, and was listening to Mademoiselle
Victorine's _histories_ and suggestions, when Robert made known that
Monsieur Maurice de Gramont begged to see Mademoiselle Melanie.

Maurice had left his father as soon as he slept; he was impatient to
return to Madeleine. He was tortured by the remembrance of her burst of
grief, and her bitter words. The forced composure by which they were
succeeded could not hide from him the deep wound she had received.
Though the period which had elapsed since his father was conducted from
Madeleine's house was so brief, the rooms, grown familiar to Maurice,
already wore a different aspect; he actually felt hurt that Madeleine
could have made the change thus rapidly. Men are so unreasonable!
Maurice resembled his sex in that particular. Then, too, he found his
trunk packed, and he knew by whose hand that duty had been performed.
Doubtless, he was grateful? Not in the least! It seemed to him that
Madeleine was in too much haste to remove the last vestige of his
sojourn near her. When she entered the drawing-room he was standing
contemplating the neatly fil