eagerly.

"Mademoiselle Valerie de Chatenoeuf," he said drily, though half in
jest, "my head is an old one, yours a very young one. I know young
folks are apt to think old heads good for nothing."

"I do not, I am sure," interrupted I, again. "I do not, indeed."

"Nor I, Valerie,"--he answered, interrupting me in his turn, with a
good-natured smile. "So you shall let me have my way in this matter.
But, to relieve you, my dear, permit me to observe that I have two
daughters of my own, and one young son, besides Charles, who is old
enough to take care of himself; and, though I am very glad to ask a
young man to dine in my house who has, as you observe, very good
manners, and is neither a fool nor a coxcomb, I am not at all willing
that he should become what you call an _habitue_, until I know something
of his character and principles. And now, as the dressing-bell has rung
these ten minutes, and it will take you at least half-an-hour to
beautify your little person, I advise you to make the most of your time.
And by all means, Valerie, stick to your resolution--never marry, my
dear, never marry; for all men are tyrants."

One might be very sure that I profited by this dismissal, and ran across
the lawn as fast as I could, glad to escape the far-sighted experience
of the shrewd old lawyer.

"He has seen it, then," I thought to myself. "He has observed it even
in this little space; even in this one interview, and he has read it,
even as I read it. I wonder if he has read my heart, too. No, no," I
continued, communing with myself, "that he cannot have done, for I know
not yet myself how to interpret it."

Little thought I then, that whenever our feelings are deeply interested,
or when strong passions are at work, even in embryo, we are for the most
part the last persons who discover the secrets which are transparent
enough, Heaven knows, to all persons but ourselves.

I do not know, nor did I inquire whether the Judge pursued his inquiries
concerning the Count as he had promised to do; much less did I learn
what was their result. But I do know that the following morning the
young gentleman called again at the gate with a led horse for my
brother; but did not ask if we were at home, merely sending his
compliments to the ladies, and requesting Monsieur de Chatenoeuf to
accompany him for a ride.

Lionel was absent in the city on business; so that Auguste and the Count
rode out alone, and did not return until it