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CHAPTER XLIX.

RONALD.

Who cannot conceive the consternation of Gaston de Bois when he learned
that Madame de Gramont had resolved to return to Brittany with her son,
and that Bertha had promised to accompany them? The countess sat looking
at him with a species of savage triumph; for since he had become
Madeleine's champion, she had treated him with pointed coldness. Gentle
and sympathetic as his affianced bride was in general, she seemed for
once to be insensible to the wound she had inflicted, and gave no sign
of wavering in her resolution.

The next morning she was on her way to Madeleine's, accompanied by her
maid. M. de Bois joined them as soon as they were out of sight of the
hotel. How suddenly Bertha's soft heart must have become fossilized!
for, although his heavy eyes and disturbed mien bore witness to the
sleepless night he had passed, she did not appear to notice any change
in his appearance.

"Bertha," he said, reproachfully, "you cannot be so cruel,--so
ungenerous! You will not leave me and return to Brittany with your aunt,
instead of giving me the right to detain you!"

"It's very hard-hearted," replied Bertha, tantalizingly; "but I have
promised my aunt to accompany her, and I, cannot break my word."

"But your promise to me?"

"I hope to keep that, in good time, when the conditions are fulfilled."

"But you link that promise with conditions which may never be
fulfilled,--never!"

"Then we must be happy as we are," said Bertha, naively.

Bertha's obstinacy was surprising in one of her malleable, easily
influenced character; but it seemed prompted by an instinctive belief
that Gaston would be forced to make some exertion,--take some steps
(their nature Bertha did not define to herself) which would result in
bringing about Madeleine's happiness, and in promoting her union with
her unknown lover. This one idea had taken such full possession of
Bertha's brain that it could not be dislodged, and all Gaston's fervent
entreaties that she would not let his happiness depend upon such an
unlikely contingency were fruitless.

"Then I have but one alternative," said Gaston, at last. "I will resign
my secretaryship and accompany you to Brittany. You cannot imagine that
I would let you go without me?"

Bertha did not say how much pleasure this suggestion gave her; but the
glad radiance in her blue eyes told she had been unexpectedly spared one
half the sacrifice which she had determined t