end; and I think that the best thing you can
do, is to take this ride which he proposes, and see his tutor. In the
meantime, I will drive down to Kew, and speak with our good friend,
Judge Selwyn, on the subject. To-morrow evening I will see the Count,
and hear whatever he desires to say to me."

This was a very matter-of-fact way of dealing with the affair,
certainly; but what Auguste had said, was in some sort true. I was in
truth rather a matter-of-fact girl, and I never found that I suffered by
it in the least; for I certainly was not either worldly or selfish, and
the feelings do, as certainly, require to be guided and controlled by
sober reason.

After coming to this conclusion, I showed Madame d'Albret's letter to
Auguste, and we came to the decision, also, that, under the
circumstances, Auguste should immediately, on his return, communicate
the fact of my being alive and in good circumstances, to my father;
leaving it at his discretion to inform my mother of the facts or not, as
he might judge expedient.

At a very early hour next morning, I took a glass-coach and drove down
to Kew, where I arrived, greatly to the astonishment of the whole
family, just as they were sitting down to breakfast; and, when I stated
that I had come to speak on very urgent business with the Judge, he
desired my carriage to return to town, and proposed to carry me back
himself, so that we might kill two birds, as he expressed it, with one
stone, holding a consultation in his carriage, while on his way to
court.

As soon as we got into the coach, while I was hesitating how to open the
subject, which was certainly a little awkward for a young girl, the
Judge took up the discourse--

"Well, Valerie," he said, "I suppose you want to know the result of the
inquiries which you were so unwilling that I should make about the Count
de Chavannes. Is not that true?"

"It is perfectly true, Judge--though I do not know how you ever have
divined it."

"It is lucky, at least, that I consulted my own judgment, rather than
your fancy; for otherwise I should have had no information to give you."

"But as it is, Judge?"

"Why as it is, Mademoiselle Valerie, you may marry him as soon as ever
he asks you, and think yourself a very lucky young lady into the
bargain. He has a character such as not one man in fifty can produce.
He is rich, liberal without being extravagant, never plays, is by no
means dissipated, and in all respects is a man o